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Is it dangerous to break a fluorescent light bulb?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use dramatically less energy than incandescent bulbs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But they also contain mercury – a dangerous toxin. If a CFL breaks, some of the mercury that’s contained in the bulb will evaporate into the air.
What happens if you breathe in fluorescent light bulb?
The parts of the body most affected by mercury inhalation are the kidneys and the central nervous system. People who have accidentally inhaled relatively large quantities of vapours – for instance at certain workplaces – often show inflammation of the lungs, kidney damage, gastroenteritis, restlessness and shaking.
What do you do if you break a fluorescent light bulb?
Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them. Check with your local government about disposal requirements. Some communities require that trashed fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center.
Are fluorescent lamps harmful to humans?
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), commonly known as energy-saving lamps are identified by their fluorescent tube bent onto itself or even wrapped. These bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, they contain mercury, a substance that can be harmful to humans and to the environment.
How much mercury is in a fluorescent tube light bulb?
The amount of mercury in a fluorescent lamp varies from 3 to 46 mg, depending on lamp size and age. Newer lamps contain less mercury and the 3–4 mg versions are sold as low-mercury types. A typical 2006-era 4 ft (122 cm) T-12 fluorescent lamp (i.e. F34T12) contains about 5 milligrams of mercury.
Can you get mercury poisoning from a fluorescent bulb?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain small amounts of mercury. A small percentage of this mercury can be released into the air if the bulbs are broken. Mercury can cause poisoning in some circumstances. Even so, people are encouraged to replace their “old fashioned” incandescent bulbs with CFLs.
How much mercury is in a fluorescent bulb?
CFLs contain very small amounts of mercury On average, CFLs contain about four milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury – an amount equal to the mercury in over 100 CFLs.
How much mercury is in a 4 foot fluorescent bulb?
The average mercury content of a 4-foot-long bulb manufactured today is approximately 12 mg.
Can fluorescent lighting make you sick?
TBI can also cause a person to feel ill when exposed to fluorescent lighting, according to the International Brain Injury Association. Fluorescent light-induced symptoms can include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, eye strain, eye fatigue, and increased sensitivity to visual input.
How much mercury is in fluorescent tubes?
How long does mercury vapor stay in the air?
one year
At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. This vapor has a very long life (up to one year) in the air.
Why are compact fluorescent lightbulbs so dangerous?
The answer lies in the type of bulb that broke—a compact fluorescent lightbulb —and what was inside that bulb. Compact fluorescents, like their tubular fluorescent precursors, contain a small amount of mercury—typically around five milligrams. Mercury is essential to a fluorescent bulb’s ability…
How much mercury is in a light bulb that broke?
The answer lies in the type of bulb that broke—a compact fluorescent lightbulb—and what was inside that bulb. Compact fluorescents, like their tubular fluorescent precursors, contain a small amount of mercury—typically around five milligrams.
Is it OK to throw fluorescent light bulbs out?
Vacuums or brooms should generally be avoided, as they can spread mercury to other parts of the house. Intact bulbs can be a headache to dispose of, too. In many locales it is illegal to throw fluorescents out with regular garbage, but the closest recycling or take-back facility may be miles away.
Are there health risks from a broken CFL bulb?
(Mercury accumulates in small amounts in the bodies of fish.) Another article, in the European Commission’s 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.