Inert gas In food packaging, inert gases are used as a passive preservative, in contrast to active preservatives like sodium benzoate (an antimicrobial) or BHT (an antioxidant). Historical documents may also be stored under an inert gas to avoid degradation. For example, the original documents of the U.S. Constitution is stored under humidified argon. Helium was previously used, but it was less suitable because it diffuses out of the case more quickly than argon. Inert gases are often used in the chemical industry. In a chemical manufacturing plant, reactions can be conducted under inert gas to minimize fire hazards or unwanted reactions.
Phase-out of incandescent light bulbs potentially visually-obstructive snow and ice on warning lights and signs. The heat is also used to melt the wax inside lava lamps. Some CFLs may not be compatible with existing dimming circuits such as those using TRIACs, although more dimmable CFLs are expected to become available as the phase-outs continue. Mains voltage halogen bulbs provide a somewhat more efficient dimmable alternative to common incandescent bulbs and are readily available, although they too will be phased out in the EU from September 2018. Dimmable LED lamps are available from several vendors, although not all LED lamps are compatible with dimmers and