Regarding the mercury in energy saving light bulbs, I know you have to evacuate the room if one breaks...?

Question

but is there any health risk in the mere fact of them being lit in your home? Does mercury leach out into the room while they're burning?

Also, if one does break in your home, does the mercury just stay there for years or does it dissipate over time?

Every bulb in my house is an energy saver, but I have two kids with chronic illnesses and don't want to make their condition worse by living in a mercury home...

Answer 1

Can you tell me what are the people in west indies called?

Are they called Caribbieans or West Indians?

Answer 2

I had one break in my home, and didn't even realize it till I turned on the light, and it didn't light up. I am still in the same un-healthy state I was before it happened. No more un-healthy, no-less either.

In the small amount that is contained in these bulbs, it's virtually harmless. The difference between these bulbs and thermometers is we stick the thermometer into the kid's mouth. The kid can then bite the thermometer and there you go.

We know it's toxic, and want to avoid it as much as possible, so we should leave the room if we know one has broken, but we shouldn't become overly concerned about it.

I'll add to that by saying I grew up with mercury thermometers, and I cannot think of a single case where someone got sick because of them. I'm not saying it didn't happen, just it was very uncommon. Since there is less mercury in a CFL, it will be even less common. BTW those mercury thermometers were in every home while I was growing up, and every kid had one stuck in his/her mouth more than once. So they were pretty common at one time.

Answer 3

Read the EPA guidelines for how to do the hazmat clean-up (link provided).  The bulbs are safe as long as they don't brea. Kids do tend to break things, especially lamps, so make sure you talk to them about the hazards and risks and instruct them on how to be safe.

Answer 4

your betteroff with std bulbs the mini fluro jobies are not energy eficent over all due the envro damage in diposale and wat it actually takes in raw materials and resources  to produce them as to the murcury no amount is god and it dosn,t break down for a very long time

Answer 5

You have to evacuate the room?  Jesus, we've broken heaps of them!  I don't know about the mercury leaking out of them, but I do know it's a farce and we've changed back to normal light bulbs.  They don't seem to last any longer than a normal light bulb and they're toxic in the environment.  They're probably not as dangerous to have in the home as it is to eat a lot large fish (tuna, swordfish) which contain high levels of mercury.

Answer 6

There is no gas or solid element that can penetrate glass

.. . ..

Mercury does not just disappear it is always present and to disappear from the home if a broken CFL tube light bulb does not pose enough of a threat to health

.. . ..

Only it is there and if breathed in close proximity of the broken CFL tube you might pose a threat to the health of the person breathing it

.. .. ..

The kids should be safe if they were not there would be a warning on the CFL tubes when you purchased them

.. .. ..

And we all know how the Dept. of Health is always on the hound dog for something that is a threat to life

.. . .

Answer 7

Energy saving bulbs are safe as long as they are intact. It's kind of like holding an older type of themometer (non-digital). Actually, this article states that the new light bulbs don't even hold as much mercury as the old thermometers. The article also suggests not to install the bulbs in places like tables (I'm guessing end tables or bedside tables, because it maybe easier for a child to knock the lamp over, thus breaking the bulb. I'm leaving the link for you to check out.

Answer 8

there's mercury in them??

Really??

I thought that's why they took it out of thermomaters (sp?)

I'm not sure your info is correct, because if people were too afriad to but it in a thermomater (again, sp?) why would they put it something that we have a dozen or so of in our house??

Answer 9

mercury is only possinus when vapour so it does dissipate quite quikely and there is only a small amount in the bulb any way. but the fraze mad as a hatter come from people that used to make velvit hats using mercury and all ended up crazy.

if one breaks open window in room and try to aviod it for rest of day.

Answer 10

Wow, I didn't know that.  I've had a quick look and found this interesting article.  (Apparently some people are hoarding light globes so they can keep using them when they've been phased out!) If you scroll down it shows you the warnings that will go on packaging in the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...

I have kids as well and intend to do some intense research myself.

Answer 11

There isn't that much mercury in them so if one breaks there isn't much to worry about (older fluorescent lights contained a lot more mercury than what is being sold today) and they only release it if they break.

If they break clean them up, open a window and you and everyone else will be fine, mercury is dangerous, but low levels of the stuff won't hurt you too much.

Oh and make sure you only put CFLs in open fitting hanging down, otherwise the electronics running them could overheat (incandescent heaters are fine running it high temperatures but CFLs aren't so happy about being in enclosed fittings) and never run a CFL in a dimmer circuit.

Answer 12

If a bulb is broken, you are to open a window, and leave to room for 15 minutes.

disposal of the broken bulb, wipe up the bulb and all broken parts including the power with a wet rag, and put the rag and all of the parts of the bulb into a plastic bag.

it is OK to send to the landfill as long as they do not burn at the landfill.

Also there is only 1% of the mercury in one of these bulbs, as there was in the old fashioned thermometers.