Is it dangerous if a CFL light bulb breaks?
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.
Do CFL bulbs burst?
A CFL might explode due to gas inside of it getting ignited but the most likely scenario for these and LEDs are that they simply stop working. If you are dealing with a broken CFL bulb, please go here for a detailed instruction on how to deal with the mess.
What do you do if you break a CFL bulb?
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 dangerous are CFL bulbs?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are likely somewhere in your home. These common bulbs save money on your energy bill, but they contain a small amount of mercury. If ingested or inhaled, mercury can be hazardous to your health.
What happens if you inhale mercury from a 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.
How much mercury is in a CFL 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.
What do you do if a mercury light bulb breaks?
A small amount of mercury vapor is released immediately. Open any windows, leave the room without stepping into the shattered bulb, and close the door. Stay out of the room for at least 15 minutes. Turn off the heat or air conditioning so that any mercury vapor is not circulated.
Why did they stop making CFL bulbs?
The growth of technology for CFL bulbs stopped soon after their initial peak in 2007, because of their notoriously slow start-up time.