So we all have been making the switch to Compact Fluorescent Lights/lightbulbs, right? Yes, they are more energy efficient and will save you some bucks in the long run but they contain a small amount of mercury in them. So we wanted to make sure all you Smarty moms knew what to do if you happen to drop and break one. Although this has not happened to me (yet), I would be the one to drop a kidney like Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy last week. So I figure that I better know what do because it’s likely to happen to me or one of us at some point in time! The following information is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA recommends for Americans to use CFL’s and to RECYCLE them as well. Carefully recycling CFL’s prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of the materials that make CFL’s. So here is the to do and NOT to do list for a mercury spill. Remember it’s not just the powder on the floor that will be harmful but it’s the mercury vapors that are toxic as well.
TO DO:
– Ask everyone to leave the room.
– Open window/door to air out the room for at least 15 minutes.
– Shut off central air/heat.
– Put on gloves.
– Carefully scoop up pieces with cardboard/stiff paper and put in a glass jar such as canning jar.
– Use duct tape to pick up remaining pieces or powder.
– Use damp paper towels to wipe area clean. Place towels or wipes in glass jar/plastic bag.
– It is not recommended to vacuum unless you have broken pieces on carpet/rug since it will cause the mercury to become airborne.
– Throw away clothing, bedding, etc. that has come in direct contact with mercury. Do not wash since it will contaminate the washing machine, septic tank, etc.
– You can wash clothing that has only been exposed to the VAPOR.
– Wipe/wash the bottom of shoes.
– Put bag/jar in trash and contact local government to confirm how to dispose of the hazardous material.
– Wash hands thoroughly!!
DO NOT:
– Use vacuum. Use only if break occurs on carpet
– Do not use broom, it will break the mercury up into smaller pieces.
– Put mercury down the drain.
– Never wash clothing that came in direct contact with mercury
– Never walk around if your shoes may be contaminated with mercury
Items needed to clean up small mercury spill
– Ziplock bags
– Trash bags
– Rubber or latex gloves
– Paper towels
– Cardboard or squeegee
– Duct tape
– Flashlight
Now it’s great to know what items you need and then you could make your own “clean up” kit and keep at home. Here is a company that sells their own clean up kits which would be good for work or at home.
This particular company states that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin and one of the most toxic elements on the planet. “Mercury has the most significant effects on children and unborn children. For this reason pregnant women and children should be kept away from a CFL break site for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2 hours or more.”
Please visit the EPA’s site for more detailed information.
You can take your expired CFL’s into any Home Depot, as long as it’s not broken, and it will be put into their recycling program. From what I can see on the Charmeck website it appears the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center will recycle CFL’s as well. Here is the link for other recycling centers.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions or if this has happened to you!
10 comments
Good Grief! I’ll be sticking with the old ones. I don’t want to have to use a hazmat suit to change a lightbulb!
Judging from the comment above, I knew this post would cause alarm. Just be careful. How often does a lightbulb really break anyway? The benfits of using CFLs far outweigh the small chance of one actually breaking.
I hate to agree with the first comment because I truly support taking care of the environment but because of the mercury hazard, the fact that not one of the bulbs we have used has lasted the length they claim, the dull light and it caused a fire in one of our fixtures (electrician had to come replace the entire fixture), our family will be switching back to the old bulbs and stocking up on them so we don’t run out once they don’t sell them anymore!
I have to agree – the one fluorescent bulb that I have used did not last long at all. And I had no idea that they were so hazardous if broken!
I am glad you posted this because I had heard of a girl who had to hire a special team to clean up after a broken CFL bulb and I didn’t know if it was a rumor. Apparently not. I stay green in many other ways but will stick to the old fashion way of using light. I just don’t even see how its practical with children (or worth it)!
Sounds like someone needs to invent a better system. This will never make it into my home!!
I had no idea all this clean up was required for these bulbs!! We have pretty much switched over to them completely, except for a few lights. I will say though, we have never broken one, they are much harder class than the old light bulbs and I broke those all the time. We have had two that burned out alot sooner than they should have, but over all we have had a good experience with them. I just need to make sure we do not brake one now!!Jennifer Hoyle
I would not risk my children’s health for the sake of saving a few cents per bulb. I agree we must do something for the sake of the environment, however there is better technology around the corner when LED lighting becomes available and affordable for the home.
Hi gals,Sorry this wasn’t supposed to alarm you all or discourage you from using CFL’s. We just wanted to make sure you all knew what to do if one did break. It had occurred to us that not everyone knew about the mercury and how to clean it up. We haven’t broken any YET but I do understand your concerns. As the last comment mentioned, hopefully we will have other options in the near future. Thanks for reading.
The coal fired power plants that are being used to send the electricity into our lightbulbs are spewing out more mercury then any amount that you’d find in your house if a CFL broke. Out of sight, out of mind, i guess. Hazards are all over the place, you just have to arm yourself with the knowledge to handle an issue that arises. Until we can reduce our energy consumption across the board, mercury will continue to be abundant in the air we ALL breathe and the water our fish swim in.