Ask Karen: Bulb Concerns

By Karen McNew
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: April 29, 2008

Click here to read past Ask Karen articles

Q:  Hi, I saw your article on the diet drink ingredient, that was helpful.  I had read that that ingredient gets metabolized into formaldehyde in the body.. 
Anyway, this question is a strange one.  I have heard nothing but hype on the new smaller better light bulbs you buy to replace the ones we usually use that will save money and energy- GO GREEN!!  They say… But then I read that they have a lot of mercury in them which is harmful to humans and are not beneficial.  What is the truth?  Are we going through a fad? Is it bad for the environment or are family and paying some health cost to keep a light bulb longer?  Are we releasing mercury or using it poorly?  What is up?? Please help!

A:  When I received the aspartame question a couple weeks ago I talked to a local registered dietitian and after the article was released I got an e-mail from a viewer saying I should have checked a website that debunks myths called http://www.snopes.com. 

So when you sent this question that is the first place I looked.  From what I have found using compact fluorescent lights is not dangerous to your health.  But, if one of those bulbs breaks there are certain precautions to follow.

Here is what I found.  www.snopes.com had a link to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding compact fluorescent lights that says, “EPA is encouraging Americans to use and recycle them safely. Carefully recycling CFLs prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.”

According to the EPA, “Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.”

There are a lot of steps to take if you break one.  And depending on whether it is a hard surfaced or carpeted surfaces there are some different techniques to use.  No matter what the first steps are the same according to the EPA’s website:

Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

4. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

5. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

6. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.

7. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

4. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

5. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

6. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.

7. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

8. Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.

9. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.

10.  Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming

11.  The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.

12.  Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

Link to EPA and more information about CFLs