INFOGIFT.INFO

If you are a first time visitor: once you read this article, scroll down past a comment form, for a list of related articles. Also, please check our categories for more information on the subject of your interest. You may sign up for free updates by RSS (Reader) or E-mail. Thanks for visiting!

About Energy Saving Fluorescent Bulbs and Incandescent Bulbs.

 
A few days ago I received E-mail. It contained an article about the danger of energy saving bulbs. So, just in case, I checked the Urban Legend’s Reference to make sure the facts are correct. I found out, that they are, if only a bit exaggerated, by the Snopes’s explanation.

 
The article in “Daily Mail” states, that level of mercury in these lamps is very dangerous, while the “Snopes” implies, that it depends on many factors and you don’t need to call an environmental clean-up crews to remove the shards, if you break the bulb. Nothing said about allergies, too (unless I missed it). Otherwise, the recommendations for the care and the disposal of the broken fluorescent bulbs are the same.

 
I read other documents to which “Snopes” article refer, and they all are very cautioning and somewhat confusing in stating, that the bulbs are not dangerous, but should be disposed of properly. Also, don’t inhale, but ventilate the room, don’t vacuum, but sweep, don’t turn on the heater, try to lower the temperature, wear protective gear, dispose the bulb in a tightly closed container.

 
“Independent environmental scientist Dr. David Spurgeon warned…: “Because these light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, they could cause a problem if disposed of in a normal bin.”

 
“Certain forms of eczema – some of which are very common – do flare up badly anywhere near fluorescent lights, so these people have to just be around incandescent (old-style) lighting.”

 
Things to Remember if you Break a Fluorescent Bulb:
1.  Never use a vacuum. It will spread mercury  containing  dust throughout the area as well, as contaminating the vacuum.

 
2.  Ventilate the area.

 
3.  If possible, reduce the temperature.

 
4.  Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, coveralls or old clothing, and a dust mask to keep bulb dust and glass from being inhaled. Have something disposable on your feet, too.

 
5.  Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container.

 
6.  After collecting large pieces, collect smaller pieces of dust with a disposable broom and dustpan or two stiff pieces of paper, or a commercial mercury spill kit, if available.

 
7.  Put everything in the airtight plastic bag, pat the area with a sticky side of a duct, packing or masking. Wipe the area with a damp cloth.

 
8.  Put all waste and material used to clean up the bulb in a secure closed container and label it “Universal Waste-Broken Lamp”.

 
9.  Take the container for the recycling as universal waste.  

 
If you are interested, read the original article here: Dailymail.co.uk

 
Also, Worldnetdaily writes, that: “The Environmental Agency noted that neither warnings about the bulbs’ toxicity nor directions for proper disposal is printed on any packaging.

 
Such warnings aren’t necessary, said one toxicologist who said a number of bulbs would have to be smashed simultaneously before there was a danger…”The biggest danger is repeated exposure – a one off exposure is not as potentially dangerous compared to working in a light bulb factory.

 
“If you smash one bulb then that is not too much of a hazard. However, if you broke five bulbs in a small unventilated room then you might be in short term danger.”
Also: “Vacate room for 15 min, when the FL breaks”. Dispose of all kinds of lamps carefully.

 
Read explanation here: www.snopes.com

 
Summarizing the info, remember: don’t linger long in the sparkly dust.