Mercury in Energy-Saving Bulbs
Proper Cleanup Procedures Reduce Risk of Heavy Metal Contamination
All fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury that can pose a health risk if broken bulbs are improperly handled or waste bulbs are not correctly recycled
Governmental agencies have declared the demise of incandescent light bulbs over the next five years, so recent news reports publicizing the presence of mercury in compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) has sparked alarm among environmentally concerned consumers. A broken bulb would surely pose a risk and proper disposal of burnt out bulbs problematic.
Compact Fluorescent Construction - CFLs use a phosphor coated glass envelope that contains a mixture of mercury, argon or another noble gas, and a tungsten coil. Power applied to the tungsten element in the bulb creates a stream of electrons that bounce around inside the bulb and excite the mercury vapor. The energized mercury electrons produce ultraviolet light that is absorbed by the phosphor coating, which is re-emitted as visible light. Newer CFLs contain around five milligrams of mercury. Industry experts point out that much more mercury is generated in producing the power needed by an incandescent bulb than that released by use and disposal of energy saving compact fluorescents.
Cleaning Up a Broken CFL - The United Kingdom Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) tells consumers that while mercury certainly isn't good for you, the levels found in a CFL shouldn't be cause for harm. What little risk that exists can be mitigated by proper cleanup and disposal of broken bulbs. DEFRA and the US EPA have similar suggestions for cleaning up broken bulbs. These procedures may seem like overkill, but they will ensure what little mercury is present in a broken bulb doesn't become a health problem.
Advice for Cleaning Up After a Broken CFL:
- Leave the room and ventilate for 15 minutes or more
- While wearing rubber gloves, scoop up glass shards and debris from the bulb with a stiff piece of cardboard
- Avoid creating or inhaling dust from the broken bulb
- Don't use a vacuum or broom to clean up after a broken bulb on hard surfaces
- Place the remains in a plastic bag
- Wipe up the immediate area with a damp paper towel put it in the bag as well and seal it
- If you need to use a vacuum on carpet, place the filter bag in a plastic bag as well
- Wash your hands after finishing the clean up
- Check with local authorities on procedures for disposal. Mercury is a hazardous household waste and can't be thrown out with ordinary household trash in some areas
Recycling Compact Fluorescents - Many people don't realize that fluorescent lighting technology depends on the use of mercury. This includes the more familiar fluorescent tubes. Recycling used bulbs is the perfect way to avoid mercury related problems. While countries like the United Kingdom have designated collection points for waste bulbs, the same can't be said of the United States. The US Environmental Protection Agency maintains a list of state mercury-containing bulb recycling programs. Call around and find out what recycling resources are available in your community.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are only one of many developing technologies available to improve lighting efficiency. Improvements for instance have been made in the output of bulbs using light emitting diodes (LED) technology.
