Flourscent light bulb hazards??

Question

Ok, What's the real deal on the mercury in these light bulbs? I heard of someone who accidentally broke one and then got horribly sick from mercury vapors. Who knows the truth about these "bulbs" and what is the true mercury risk?

We already know that mercury in dental fillings and in fish can be detrimental to some people's health. You can't buy a thermometer with Mercury in it anymore, but now they are selling these things and calling them energy/environmentally superior? They want everyone to have all our light bulbs changed to these? Sounds like we need to go back to oil lamps.

who knows the truth?

Answer 1

Ha,ha,the oil lamps might be cheaper,but the big reason they are pushing flourecent bulbs is they are supposed to consume less electricity,as to the mercury it is an extremely toxic  substance so any exposure is undesirable,but as to they guy breaking one and getting sick from it I have serious doubts,they use small amounts of mercury in some types of bulbs as it is supposed to help it ionize the gas or something,but I would think they guy would have been in more danger from the broken glass,Rich

Answer 2

They do contain mercury, which can be dangerous as a substance. But reports of their dangers, often circulated through e-mails, are exaggerated. Should you break them? No, but if you do, you won't need to seal off your home. You just need to pick up the pieces.

Since these need to be replaced only every seven years or so, I have virtually no breakage because I'm not handling them as often. Also, they're curved design makes them easier to hold onto. You're unlikely to have a break.

The mercury threat in fillings and fish is probably greater than the threat in CFL bulbs. And the bulbs help cut electricity usage and carbon emissions. I'd say we could all stand to be careful for the five minutes it takes us every seven years to change the bulbs in order to reap the benefits of these innovations.

Answer 3

Unless you take a bag smash a bulb inside it and huff the fumes you are not going to get enough mercury to do any damage.

And unless you are burning vegetable oil in your oil lamps the fumes are not healthy.  Havinge your house burn down when one gets knocked over is also unhealthy.

Answer 4

The bulbs contain Mercury which is dangerous, but so are many other compounds. A typical household lamp contains about 4 thousandths of a gram. You have to balance the risk / benefit. I have the compact standard base types all over my house and have a dramatic decrease in my electrical bill, (about 75% less). I have handled flouescent bulbs for over 40 years, thousands of them, and some with large quantities of Mercury. I work for a utility and the streetlights contain it. We recycle them in an appropriate fashion and take small precautions.

My father and his friends used to play with Mercury right on the kitched counter top as kids. He is in his late 70's and is fine.

The media hype is exaggerated as with so many things today. It's as if there is an expectation that the world should be risk proof. Handle them safely, recycle them correctly, and there will be a 75% (on average) energy savings for you and the planet over incandescent lighting.

Answer 5

Here is a link to the consumer product safety commission website, and I quote a line “Mercury can cause serious and permanent nerve and kidney damage.” I would not bet on these products being safe. They are a law suit ready to happen if one should break in a store.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5057.ht...