Comprehensive analysis on mercury stream of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) in Korea (Republic of)

Due to the activation of the Minamata Convention, policies and treatment facilities for the safe management of mercury and mercury compounds have been developed in many countries, including Korea. In particular, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) should be managed safely because mercury was contained in CCFLs. However, the overall quantitative scale of CCFL as a kind of mercury-added product in Minamata Convention has not been evaluated in Korea. In this study, stream for LCD devices in Korea was analyzed from the stages of production through consumption to end-of-life using a market supply model. The mercury stream of CCFLs from LCD device was also estimated by characterization of CCFLs. As the backlight of the LCD device was converted to LED in the stage of production, there was no inflow of CCFLs into the stage of consumption from 2019. Considering the previously produced and distributed LCD devices with CCFLs in Korea, however, the stocked number in the stage of consumption in 2019 was estimated to be 227,727 thousand of CCFLs. In addition, the number of CCFLs and mercury amount in CCFLs at the stage of end-of-life were estimated to be 36,341 thousand and 65.90 kg, respectively.