What do I do if a fluorescent bulb breaks?
- Step one: Air out the area. As soon as that bulb breaks, you'll want to let the room air out for about 15 minutes.
- Step two: Find a sealable container.
- Step three: Pick up the pieces.
- Step four: Wipe the floor clean.
- Step five: Let the room air out for another few hours.
- Step six: Dispose of the broken bulb.
- Get people and pets out of the room.
- Air out the room for at least 10 minutes, and preferably several hours.
- Shut off the air-conditioning or heating system.
- Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them.
What to do with broken fluorescent light bulbs?
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. Carole Fleck is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin.
What should I do if the bulb in my vacuum breaks?
Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available; and 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.
How do you dispose of fluorescent bulbs?
Use duct tape to collect smaller fragments and powder. Then wipe down the area with a damp paper towel and place all cleanup materials and debris into a glass jar or double-plastic bag. Seal the jar or bag and wash your hands thoroughly. Fluorescent bulbs are more durable than traditional incandescents and most enter the trash unbroken.
Is it dangerous to break a fluorescent light bulb?
But breaking a fluorescent bulb or tube is actually dangerous, because fluorescent lighting contains mercury dust, which is harmful to inhale. Mercury doesn’t absorb into the skin easily, so don’t freak out if you accidentally touch it, but do avoid breathing the dust or vapors.
How toxic are broken fluorescent bulbs?
The risks to human health from individual broken CFLs is minimal; some scientists would argue that there are no real risks. Care in disposing of broken bulbs and disposing of used bulbs is important to avoid environmental contamination. Manufacturers continue to reduce the amount of mercury contained in CFLs.
Can you get mercury poisoning from a broken light bulb?
The tiny amount of mercury you're exposed to when breaking a CFL is extremely unlikely to cause any ill effects, noticeable or otherwise. But how do you minimize even this tiny amount of risk? Remove children and pets from the room, and then clean up the broken bulb as quickly as possible.
Are fluorescent lights toxic?
The Bad: Fluorescent tubes & CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury gas (about 4 mg) – which is toxic to our nervous system, lungs and kidneys. So long as bulbs stay intact, the mercury gas is no threat. This means bulbs should be handled properly to avoid breakage.
How long does mercury vapor stay in a room?
one yearThey can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials. 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.
How long does it take for mercury vapor to dissipate?
This makes it hard to detect without the use of specialized instruments. A pea-sized drop of mercury that goes undetected can take up to 384 days to fully vaporize.
What if I vacuumed up a broken CFL?
Additional advice can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/mercury. * If you already vacuumed a broken CFL: For a recent break (within a couple of days of the break): Air out the house for up to several hours to get rid of any remaining mercury vapor and change your vacuum cleaner bag or wipe out the dust cup.
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. Bulbs manufactured in the mid-1980s and earlier con- tained 40 mg or more. Low-mercury bulbs, containing 4 mg or less, are currently produced by at least one manufacturer.
Why do fluorescent lights explode?
According to Pacific Lamp Supply Company, the most common reason that lightbulbs can explode is if the manufacturers don't put enough insulation at the base of the bulb. This causes the base to melt, and the gas that is stored in the light bulb will leak out.
What to use to clean a broken bulb?
Collect materials you will need to clean up the broken bulb: Stiff paper or cardboard. Sticky tape (e.g., duct tape) 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) Top of page.
What happens when a bulb breaks?
When a bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury may be released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page . Learn more about the connections between CFLs and mercury. Top of page.
How to get rid of mercury vapor in a glass jar?
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. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag. ( NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag (s) from the home after cleanup.)
What to use to pick up glass jars?
(NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag (s) from the home after cleanup.) Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
How to get rid of mercury vapor?
Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder. Scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard . Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
Where to place bulb debris?
Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
How to clean glass jars with duct tape?
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
How to get rid of broken glass in a room?
Among the steps recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency: Get people and pets out of the room. Air out the room for at least 10 minutes, and preferably several hours. Shut off the air-conditioning or heating system. Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them.
How to dispose of a broken glass?
Health officials advise certain precautions to minimize exposure. Among the steps recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency: 1 Get people and pets out of the room. 2 Air out the room for at least 10 minutes, and preferably several hours. 3 Shut off the air-conditioning or heating system. 4 Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them. 5 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.
What would happen if all mercury in one fluorescent lamp could be collected as a bead?
If all of the mercury in one fluorescent lamp could be collected as a bead, that bead would be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence . Breathing small amounts of mercury over a period of months or years can affect your health (see web link below for more information).
How to avoid cuts and other injuries from broken glass and sharp debris?
Avoid cuts and other injuries from broken glass and sharp debris by wearing gloves and eye protection. Carefully pick up larger pieces of glass and debris and place them on a paper towel or newspaper. Pick up smaller pieces of glass and dust with pieces of sticky tape and place them on the paper.
How to get rid of glass dust?
Pick up smaller pieces of glass and dust with pieces of sticky tape and place them on the paper. If the debris is on a hard surface, wipe with damp paper towels and place the paper towels on the paper. Carefully fold everything into the paper and place it in a plastic bag.
Can a broken fluorescent light cause mercury?
The mercury released from a broken fluorescent lamp is unlikely to cause health effects because the amount of mercury is so small that the vapor is rapidly diluted in air. If you break a fluorescent lamp, promptly clean it up to avoid spreading broken glass and other debris.
Can you dispose of fluorescent lights?
Disposing of Fluorescent Lamps and Waste. Everyone is strongly encouraged to recycle their used fluorescent lamps, although households may dispose of broken and intact fluorescent lamps in the regular trash.
What happens if fluorescent light goes down?
If a fluorescent light comes crashing down onto your kitchen floor, releasing the mercury trapped within, you don't need to panic. Just follow these steps to safely get things cleaned up. Fluorescent lights get their glow from the mercury trapped inside, and the compact fluorescents (CFLs) used for energy efficient household lighting are no ...
Is it bad to break a CFL bulb?
The gas each one uses to prolong the bulb's lifespan is totally harmless. A broken CFL might be an annoying chore to deal with, but it's also an opportunity to upgrade to a bulb that's a better fit for your home.
Can you take mercury bulbs to the recycling center?
Depending on your local regulations, you might not be required to take the broken bulb to a recycling center. It's a good idea nonetheless, as you don't want that mercury sent off to a landfill, where it might slowly leech into the ground. The waste management section of your local government's website should have info on which facilities will take hazardous household materials off of your hands.
