Is mercury in fluorescent light bulbs dangerous?
Mercury is essential to a fluorescent bulb’s ability to emit light; no other element has proved as efficient. As effective as it is at enabling white light, however, mercury—sometimes called quicksilver—is also highly toxic. It is especially harmful to the brains of both fetuses and children.
Is breaking fluorescent bulbs dangerous?
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 fluorescent lights still have mercury?
On average, CFLs contain about four milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact (i.e., not broken) or in use, but mercury vapor and very small beads of mercury can be released when a CFL is broken.
What happens if you break a fluorescent light?
What if one breaks? A. Around the world, governments have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energy-efficient CFLs. It’s true that CFL bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury, sealed within the glass tubing, and it can be released as vapor after a breakage.
Can you get mercury poisoning from broken light bulb?
If you break a mercury thermometer or light bulb, a small amount of liquid mercury may spill out. However, this small amount of mercury is extremely unlikely to cause problems for your health.
How much mercury vapor is dangerous?
Occupational Exposure Limits TWA (mercury vapor): 0.05 mg/m3 (skin) Ceiling: 0.1 mg/m3 (skin)
How much mercury is in a fluorescent bulb?
An average of 4 milligrams (mg) of mercury is in a CFL. A mercury thermometer may contain about 500 mg of mercury. About 500 mg to 700 mg or less of mercury is considered a small spill. Some CFLs may contain as little as 1.4 mg to 2.5 mg per light bulb.
How much mercury is in a fluorescent tube?
The amount of mercury in a fluorescent lamp varies from 3 to 46 mg, depending on lamp size and age. Newer lamps contain less mercury and the 3–4 mg versions are sold as low-mercury types. A typical 2006-era 4 ft (122 cm) T-12 fluorescent lamp (i.e. F34T12) contains about 5 milligrams of mercury.