If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours. This cleanup guidance represents minimum recommended actions to reduce mercury exposure, and will be updated as more efficient practices are identified. Use the tape to pick up the smaller pieces of glass. This is especially important if you used a plastic bag. Scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard. Trying to vacuum up the glass from a broken bulb will only further fan the mercury vapor into the air. You certainly want to limit your exposure to them, you'd want to do that with pretty much any household chemical, though. Help, husband vacuumed a broken compact flourescent light bulb before I could tell him it has mercury.? If you break a CFL or other fluorescent bulb, follow the instructions below to keep your family, home and environment safe from toxic mercury. He then vacuumed the carpet (Dyson stick hand held, with HEPA filter), and we thought all was OK. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. If a fluorescent light comes crashing down onto your kitchen floor, releasing the mercury trapped within, you don't need to panic. Energy Saving Bulb Dangers– Fiction! The bulb broke and small pieces of the bulb were brought to me in another room. Do not use a … Allowing the mercury to sit, undisturbed, in a room with no ventilation is extremely unsafe and will quickly degrade the indoor air quality of your home. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. Tape, damp paper towels, or cleaning wipes. Using compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in your house is a great way to use less energy, save a little bit of money on your utility bills and help protect the environment. An official website of the United States government. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury. Of course, you could always toss it out and know one would ever know. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner. If you were required to touch a broken CFL bulb at work and suffered an injury, you are likely to be eligible for workers’ compensation. How to Clean Up A Broken CFL Bulb: The 8-Step Safety Process. What Never to Do After a Mercury Spill . The goal with this first step is to prevent the air in the “zone” with the broken bulb from spreading throughout your home. Check your local regulations for the best way to properly dispose of broken CFL’s. Air concentrations rapidly decline: concentrations ≤2 μg Hg/m 3 have been measured in a house two days after an Hg spill from a CFL. First, use your cardboard or stiff paper to scoop-up the large pieces of the This UV light reacts with the fluorescent coating to produce the white, visible light you see when you turn on a CFL. 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. This is exactly what you want to avoid. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid or in a sealed plastic bag. If you’re using an air conditioner, no matter what kind it may be, turn it off. Also, the bulbs should be disposed of or recycled properly. When something goes wrong, you take action before it gets worse. It was not on carpet. The next several times you vacuum the rug or carpet, shut off the HVAC system if you have one, close the doors to other rooms, and open a window or door to the outside before vacuuming. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag. As the study above concluded, the first four hours are the most important. Cardboard, heavy-duty paper or plastic scoop. Compact fluorescent bulbs are made of glass tubes filled with gas and a small amount of mercury. Leave the windows, vents and doors to the outside open in order to continue to let the mercury vapor dissipate. Below, we have listed out some tips for cleanup based on the type of flooring. Information from other sources relating to the accidental breakage of CFLs, Find out how to recycle and dispose of a CFL after it burns out, Download and print a color brochure on how to safely clean up and recycle compact fluorescent bulbs, Future cleaning of carpeting or rugs: air out the room during and after vacuuming, cleanup and disposal steps described on this page. It’s simple. Brief Analysis: CFL’s do contain mercury but an environmental cleanup crew is not required if a bulb … The only people for whom it's an issue are those who deal with mercury all the time. You don’t want CFL debris sitting inside your vacuum cleaner for an extended period of time. You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
. Summary of eRumor: 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. Collect materials you will need to clean up the broken bulb: Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces), Glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar) or a sealable plastic bag(s), Vacuuming of hard surfaces during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. Scoop up the larger pieces of glass from the floor. However, if you are concerned about your health after cleaning up a broken CFL, consult your local poison control center. Whether it is in gas or liquid form, this mercury can be released when a CFL bulb is broken. Your email address will not be published. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them. 2. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash. As noted in the studies above, a well-ventilated room is an important step to limit your exposure. You can purchase CFL bulbs that have a glass or plastic cover over the spiral or folded glass tube, if available. You can consider using a drop cloth (e.g., plastic sheet or beach towel) when changing a fluorescent light bulb in case a breakage should occur. Page 1 of 3 Is it harmful to be in the room where a CFL bulb has broken? Required fields are marked *. Safe Cleanup Tips for Broken CFLs. I _promise_. The broken bulb can continue to release mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed. Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the HVAC system shut off, as practical, for several hours. Gently screw in the CFL until snug. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning (HVAC) system, if you have one. Note: If you decide to use the vacuum cleaner, it would be wise to use the hose attachment, keep the area well-ventilated and dispose of the bag / empty the canister as soon as possible. (Contrary to some wilder rumors, however, a single broken CFL bulb does not need to be dealt with by an environmental clean-up crew.) Note: A glass jar with a tight fitting metal lid is the best item to dispose of the broken shards of glass because it keeps the mercury vapor sealed inside. by calling 1-800-222-1222. So, be a good neighbor, follow the law and dispose accordingly. But the danger can be minimized if you act quickly and follow a proper cleanup process. Measured data suggest that a broken CFL may produce Hg concentrations of 8 to 20 μg Hg/m 3 for a short time after the breakage. [. ... CFL vs. Incandescent: Battle of the Bulb. These types of bulbs look more like incandescent bulbs and may be more durable if dropped. Because of the trace amounts of mercury inside the bulb, it’s important that you take proper precautions if you ever find yourself having to clean up a broken one. Mercury also can be released into the environment if bulbs are not recycled properly. See the detailed cleanup instructions for more information, and for differences in cleaning up hard surfaces versus carpeting or rugs. A CFL uses 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb and lasts at least 6 times longer. [, Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available, and. Place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area. January 2014 article "Separating Myth From Fact on CFL and LED Light Bulbs: Five Concerns Addressed" in, September 2012 article "Mercury risk from fluorescent lamps in China: Current status and future perspective" in the journal, August 2012 article "Exposure analysis of accidental release of mercury from compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)" in the journal, 2011 article "Environmental Release of Mercury from Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps" in the journal, July 2011 article "Human health risks from mercury exposure from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)" in the journal, May 2010 opinion of the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) of the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate on Mercury in Certain Energy-Saving Light Bulbs (PDF), September 2008 article "Mercury: Cleanup for Broken CFLs" in the journal, February 2008 Mercury Policy Project report: Shedding Light on Mercury Risks from CFL Breakage (PDF). Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last about six times longer, but it’s no secret that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury (about 4 milligrams per bulb on average).. Like any glass product, CFLs tend to break occasionally, causing many … I don't think there's mercury poisoning danger with regular fluorescent bulbs. The tiny shards of glass that come from the broken bulb can easily cut open your skin. Not so with a CFL, because as I'm sure all of you already know, the bulbs we're all supposed to be screwing into our sockets to save energy and the planet contain the highly toxic mercury. Now that the broken bulb has been picked up, remove it from the house immediately. The drop cloth will help prevent mercury contamination of nearby surfaces and can be bundled with the bulb debris for disposal. But, that’s probably not why you’re reading this. Put all materials into your bag or glass jar, and seal completely. (NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.). Cleanup of any broken CFL bulbs should be prompt and precise. Actions you can take to prevent broken CFLs. If one is not available, a sealable plastic bag, such as a large ziploc bag, will suffice. If a CFL Breaks - Warning: How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb? How could mercury released from a broken CFL. Next, use tape or damp paper towels to help remove the smaller shards of glass. Also of … I’m willing to guess that you’re concerned about the small amounts of mercury inside of a CFL bulb, and, perhaps, what it’s going to do to your indoor air quality. Yes, it can be a potential safety concern. You should follow the recommendations on this page if you've broken either a CFL or another type of mercury-containing light bulb, such as: CFLs and the other light bulbs listed above contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. However, breaking one of these bulbs, as simple as it may seem, can create a dangerous situation. Know that you have a better understanding of how to clean up a broken CFL bulb, let’s take a closer look at a few other factors that will help protect you from the mercury inside. I was pre-occupied searching for something in the under-stairs storage space – during the process I used said vacuum cleaner in this poorly ventilated space, not even thinking about any potential hazard. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. Get everyone out of the room pronto. After cleaning up the shards of glass and throwing all the debris away in the best possible way, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and hot water. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. We turned out fine. I waited 20 minutes, and then put on some latex gloves and picked all the large pieces up, then vacuumed the carpet (I had no choice). You can call your center any time you have questions or in an emergency. If a fluorescent light comes crashing down onto your kitchen floor, releasing the mercury trapped within, you don't need to panic. The amount of mercury vapor that is released from one broken CFL bulb is not enough to make anyone sick. Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one. CFL bulbs use less energy than a regular light bulb. *twitch* posted by felix betachat at 11:37 PM on May 4, … So, yes… A broken CFL bulb can be dangerous, especially for younger kids. With headlines circulatingabout mercury in CFLs, the initial freak-out moment after breaking a bulb is understandable. Plus that's for CF bulbs. He could've broken the bulb open, breathed the contents immediately, and it wouldn't have caused a statistically significant amount of harm. Fortunately, a broken CFL, or even a bunch of broken CFLs aren't really going to pose much of a health or financial hazard to the average person. 2. Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb: damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and. If the area has been exposed to elemental mercury, than it is important that you prevent the air from dissipating to other areas of your home. a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag. The amount of mercury in a CFL may be up to about 5 milligrams (mg). Allow the room to air out for about 10 minutes by opening a window or a door. Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system … How to clean up a broken CFL bulb. Continue previous step until you feel confident that all glass shards have been removed. It’s a rather simple process that doesn’t require a professional and can be completed within a few minutes. But, you don’t want to inadvertently contaminate another area of our community. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. There are no positive health effects from a broken CFL, and you can reduce your exposure. Wear disposable … Use of compact fluorescent lightbulbs can save money, conserve energy, reduce waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. How to clean up a broken CFL bulb. Don't be alarmed; the steps outlined below are only precautions that reflect best practices for cleaning up a broken CFL. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines: 1.