Broken CFL Bulb?

Question

I recently broke a CFL bulb. It was a black light made by Globe.

Now I've read that these bulbs contain mercury and isn't enough to harm most people. But then I also read the precautions for cleaning up after the bulb breaks. So if it isn't harmful why do we have to be so careful cleaning up the mess. Anyways the bulb broke beside my bed on the table, so I don't know if I should sleep in it or what to do with the pillows or sheets.... Any suggestions or solutions?

Answer 1

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room(mercury will turn into vapour) Have people & pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

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

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

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard & place them in a sealed plastic bag.

Use sticky tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments & powder.

Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the plastic bag.

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

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a sealed plastic bag.

Use sticky tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments & powder.

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

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

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container.  

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

Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.