Weird...here's what I found:
Quote:
Bulbs burn out when the ballast overheats and an electronic component,
the Voltage Dependent Resister (VDR), opens up like a fuse in your
home's fuse box, shutting off the circuit and generating heat and
possibly a small amount of smoke. This might sound dangerous, but the
VDR is a cut-off switch that prevents any hazards. The melted plastic
you're seeing where the glass coil connects to the ballast is simply a
sign that the heat is escaping as intended in the design of the bulb LINK
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I'm not totally convinced they're safe.