The greatest danger to skin with a broken fluorescent light bulb is the chance you could be cut with glass shards, according to ge lighting. Aug 03, 2011 another article, in the european commissions scientific committee on health and environmental risks, concluded last year that significant health risks were unlikely for adults pdf when a broken cfl bulb was cleaned up properly. Expert warns of danger in broken cfl bulbs cbs philly. Still, the environmental protection agency epa suggests that precautions be taken if a cfl bulb.
You can handle cfl bulbs carefully to avoid breakage. So, if you or anyone you know has cfl bulbs, or is a parent or grandparent, please pass along this information so that they know what to do and what not to do after a cfl break in their. Mercury is not dangerous if it touches your skin, but if you get it on your hand and then hold your hand close to your face, you could inhale. If youve broken a cfl bulb, here are tips, safety guidelines and cleanup instructions to ensure the. The doctors demonstrate the proper way to dispose of a cfl bulb, and reveal other light dangers. May 04, 2008 a cfl containing 5 mg of mercury breaks in your childs bedroom that has a volume of about 25 m3 which corresponds to a medium sized bedroom. Everyone needs to know how to properly clean up a broken. Mar 11, 2008 this thread on this broken compact flourescent bulb question at ask metafilter makes me feel a bit better as well. In a 2012 study, a team of researchers at the aristotle university of thessaloniki in greece. So picking up shards with your bare hands or leaving them in poorly ventilated room while you ponder the best disposal method is a particularly bad idea. When the tube of a fluorescent light bulb breaks, the mercury vapour inside is released into the air. Cfl bulbs pose a significant fire risk with ordinary use.
The amount of mercury contained in one cfl bulb poses a grave danger to a homes inhabitants, and the mercury dispersed by one broken cfl bulb needs to. The entire 5 mg of mercury vaporizes immediately an unlikely occurrence, resulting in an airborne mercury concentration in this room of 0. Glass cuts can be nasty and can sometimes lead to necrosis, but usually because of bacterial infection. There are no positive health effects from a broken cfl, and you can reduce your exposure. Apr 11, 2008 albeit as long as fluorescent tubes are around, the imminent danger posed by mercury still remains, because mercury cannot be replaced by an equally efficient clean substance. Many environmentally conscious people think they are doing a great thing by using compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls. May 02, 2007 the amount of mercury contained in one cfl bulb poses a grave danger to a homes inhabitants, and the mercury dispersed by one broken cfl bulb needs to be dealt with only by an environmental. But you may want to wear gloves anyway, to avoid cut fingers from the broken glass. Cfls do indeed contain mercury and caution is certainly required when cleaning up and disposing of a broken bulb. Are compact fluorescent light bulbs really dangerous help save dangers of cfl mercury light bulbs how dangerous is broken fluorescent bulb ask the experts aarp b how to clean up a broken cfl bulb cnet. Human health risks from mercury exposure from broken.
The danger comes if the bulbs are cracked, broken or not disposed of properly. I dont think theres mercury poisoning danger with regular fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain a minuscule amount of mercury, and you cant safely ignore potential contact with it. A broken mercurycontaining light bulb poses obvious health risks to people in close proximity. Grow lights explained cfl led and hps easy and cheap to efficient and expensive duration. So, lets assume that what happens with cfls is comparable to what happens with tubular fluorescents.
The amount of mercury contained in one cfl bulb poses a grave danger to a homes inhabitants, and the mercury dispersed by one broken. The danger lurking in compact fluorescent light bulbs fox news. Question about broken energysaving light bulb and pregnancy. Open any windows, leave the room without stepping into the shattered bulb, and.
It is unlikely that any spilled liquid mercury will be visible as the volume of mercury is small and any. Basically it says that while mercury is never a good thing to have around, the amount in a broken cfl wont be fatal, but careful clean up is probably important. A broken cfl definitely merits attention and a proper cleanup, but by following some simple instructions you can minimize your exposure and effectively eliminate the contaminant. In the united states, production of traditional incandescent light bulbs will be. Cleaning up broken led bulbs is different and simpler than cleaning up cfl bulbs. Another article, in the european commissions scientific committee on health and environmental risks, concluded last year that significant health risks were unlikely for adults pdf when a broken cfl bulb was cleaned up properly. There has recently been some concern over the possibility that broken cfls can be an important source of exposures to mercury, a toxic metal and a key component of compact fluorescent. Apr 14, 2009 for the average person, the risk associated with a broken cfl is probably much less than the risk involved in, say, eating a lot of seafood that contains high levels of mercury. Even if it is not broken, you should set the bulb aside and take it to a.
Separating myth from fact on cfl and led light bulbs. A viral email claims broken energy saving compact fluorescent cfl light bulbs contain mercury and shows gruesome images of feet that were allegedly exposed to mercury from a broken energy saving bulb. The answer lies in the type of bulb that brokea compact fluorescent lightbulb and what was inside that bulb. But its a necessary springcleaning chore that freshens your home and gives you the light youre paying for. I did leave the room about five minutes after the incident and looked up how to handle a broken cfl.
Granted, cleaning light fixtures is a hassle that requires a stepladder and a steady hand. When a cfl bulb breaks, the biggest health threat is not from the broken shards of glass, but from the mercury vapors that are immediately emitted into the air. Could cutting ones self on a broken cfl bulb cause severe. Thus, the message does have some merit as a warning to cfl users. If clothing or bedding was exposed to vapors, but not the actual. I turned it on the other day and then smelled smoke after a few minutes. That said, however, as explained below, the warning tends to overstate the mercury exposure risk associated with broken cfls.
Apr 27, 2012 when a cfl bulb breaks, the biggest health threat is not from the broken shards of glass, but from the mercury vapors that are immediately emitted into the air. How to clean up a broken fluorescent bulb or tube local. The major danger is getting an infection from stepping on one of the tiny glass shards there is probably more mercury in a glass of your drinking water. A broken watt cfl bulb will only have released 30% of its mercury a full four days after it is brokenthe remainder is trapped in the bulb.
However, the dangers associated with mercury exposure can be reduced to a great extent with careful handling and disposal of the broken cfls. The compact fluorescent lamplight cfl bulbs contain mercury, which can get released into the atmosphere when these bulbs are broken. If possible, screwunscrew the cfl by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing. It was not shattered everywhere from what my wife remembers it was contained in the lampshade. Led lightemitting diode bulbs use less energy than incandescent light bulbs. For the average person, the risk associated with a broken cfl is probably much less than the risk involved in, say, eating a lot of seafood that contains high levels of mercury. We all know the health hazards associated with mercury, especially its dangerous effects on the brains of developing fetuses and young children. Some municipalities require broken fluorescents to be taken to the recycling center, while others will tell you to dispose of them with the. A broken fluorescent light bulb can also expose you to mercury. Warning from british ministry of health danger from. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a. Cleaning up a broken cfl compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Broken cfl exposure breakage mercury child ask metafilter. We see them advertised everywhere, even our most trusted environmental news sources tells us we should be using them. When i was a kid, my brothers and i used to climb up on the roof and play zeus, throwing spent fluorescent tubes on the sidewalk below. If a mercurycontaining light bulbs breaks, everyone should exit the room for about 20 minutes and give the elemental mercury a chance to dispel throughout the room. Below is a picture of a cfl light bulb from my bathroom.
But, the risks associated with mercury exposure can be minimized with careful handling and disposal of the broken pieces. In an average room, the amount of vapour could briefly be well above the limits allowed in the general environment, and could exceed the levels allowed in the workplace. Broken cfls not a serious health threat mother nature network. Are compact fluorescent light bulbs really dangerous. First, increase the ventilation in the room where the bulb broke by opening windows and. Hg content from a broken light bulb apparently results in a wide overestimation of air. Fluorescent bulbs are more durable than traditional incandescents and most enter the trash unbroken. Another scientific study that appeared in the journal environmental engineering science found broken cfl bulbs release 0.
Vacuuming with the shop vac is how we always clean up glass cause it picks up everything. Understanding the dangers of compact fluorescent light. Then only about 10% of the mercury is released when a bulb breaks the rest is adsorbed onto the surfaces in the bulb and will go away with the broken glass. Also, dont spray cleaning solutions directly onto the light bulb, which could damage the bulb. Close the door behind you and let the dust settle for at least 10 minutes. The researchers suggest that in the case of a broken cfl, you should immediately open a nearby window. Leave the room immediately, taking people and pets with you. You can switch off and allow a working cfl bulb to cool before handling. After i bought a few compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs, i heard they contain mercury. This thread on this broken compact flourescent bulb question at ask metafilter makes me feel a bit better as well. Mercury is slow acting and doesnt cause tissue death like this even in large quantities. I just want to know if my kids are going to get mercury poisoning if a bulb breaks in their rooms. Dirty bulbs shed 30% less light than clean ones, says the u. However, they do break easily in the trash and can become a danger to sanitation workers and the environment.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last about six times longer, but its no secret that cfls contain a small amount of mercury about 4 milligrams per bulb on average. Oct 14, 2012 grow lights explained cfl led and hps easy and cheap to efficient and expensive duration. Once a cfl has been broken, mercury vapor, liquid mercury if present and mercury adsorbed onto the phosphor powder will be released nj mtf, 2002. Remove and throw away any clothing or bedding that came in direct contact with the broken glass or the powder inside the bulb.
How to clean up energyefficient bulbs that break home. Open any windows, leave the room without stepping into the shattered bulb, and close the. Albeit as long as fluorescent tubes are around, the imminent danger posed by mercury still remains, because mercury cannot be replaced by an equally efficient clean substance. May 12, 2016 if you happen to break a cfl in your home, scroll through to the next page for tips, safety guidelines and cleanup instructions from the epa that will help ensure the safe removal and disposal of your broken bulb. Im 25 weeks pregnant and my husband recently broke a cfl energysaving light bulb in our bedroom. Dec 16, 20 be sure to check cfl labels for mercury levels and disposal requirements. Although it sounds like a miniscule amount 4 to 5 milligrams there is enough mercury in just one fluorescent light bulb to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water. To be extra cautious, turn off the circuit breaker, or put a piece of tape over the switch so no one else turns it on while your working. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a bag and set the bag outside. Understanding the dangers of compact fluorescent light bulbs. How to safely clean up and dispose of a broken fluorescent.
The amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. Led bulbsespecially regarding cleanup of broken bulbsshould not be confused with compact florescent cfl bulbs. Alberta urban garden simple organic and sustainable 1,278,885 views. It would take weeks for that amount of mercury vapor to reach hazardous levels in a room. Broken compact fluorescent light bulbs danger shelly. I am seven months pregnant and my husband broke a cfl bulb. If a fluorescent light comes crashing down onto your kitchen floor, releasing the mercury trapped within, you dont need to panic. How dangerous is a broken compact fluorescent lamp cfl. I just want to know if my kids are going to get mercury poisoning if a bulb breaks. It was very early in the morning, so i was a bit too groggy to realize what dangers the broken cfl, which contains mercury, posed. This is almost one thousand times less than what was in mercury thermometers. Turn off the electricity to the fixture before messing with the bulbs. Apr 10, 2008 compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain a minuscule amount of mercury, and you cant safely ignore potential contact with it. Be sure to check cfl labels for mercury levels and disposal requirements.
The first thing youll want to do when cleaning up a fluorescent bulb is to cover your mouth and nose with a bandanna or cloth and open the windows for ventilation. Mar 31, 2009 in a recent study in the state of maine, a number of clean up methods were tested after researches broke 65 compact fluorescent light bulbs and the air quality was found to contain up to 100 times the levels of mercury than is considered safe by federal guidelines. May 02, 20 because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors. Dangers of cfl mercury light bulbs how dangerous is broken fluorescent bulb ask the experts aarp b are compact fluorescent light bulbs really dangerous help save what to do if you break a compact fluorescent light bulb l erie. We will receive a commission if you purchase from them or use their services. Broken fluorescent light bulbs dangerous shelly lighting. Measured data suggest that a broken cfl may produce hg concentrations of 8 to 20. Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. My nightowl daughter woke me in a panic at around 2 a. The epa provides a detailed list of tips and cleanup instructions to help you safely dispose of a broken cfl in your home. The amount of mercury contained in one cfl bulb poses a grave danger to a homes inhabitants, and the mercury dispersed by one broken cfl bulb needs to be dealt with only by an environmental. The risks to human health from individual broken cfls is minimal. Because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors.
The committee said it didnt have enough data to assess the risk for children. Clean room light fixtures how to clean light fixtures. Mercury a potent, developmental neurotoxin that can damage the brain, liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Jul 31, 2007 the amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls contain small amounts of mercury. The environmental protection agency has developed a handy guide on how to clean up a. Mar 07, 2011 the energy efficiency of cfls may be significant, but unlike traditional light bulbs, there is a hidden danger sealed inside each little bulb that requires special handling and disposal. How could mercury released from a broken cfl affect health.