When you break open a fluorescent tube, and some of the mercury vapors get on your clothing, how do you clean?

Question

If you run the clothes through the washer with everything else, will it contaminate everything in the washer and dryer, or will the washer remove the heavy metal?

My father works in a warehouse (he owns a rigging company) and he often times breaks open fluorescent light tubes on the ceiling when operating a forklift. I'm afraid that when he comes home with the same clothing on, that I could have exposure. Could my clothing get contaminated by being put in the same washer as his? :/

Answer 1

You would be exposed to such an extremely minute amount that it probably wouldn't have any effect at all. Actually by the time the glass hits the floor the vapor has already dispersed into the atmosphere. I would be more worried about your father breathing it in than being on his or your clothes. The problem is not the quantity in one single tube, it is the exposure over a long period of time. So one tube in say 6 or 12 months might not be enough to do any harm but if it happened every week then there could be problems. I would suggest that your father goes and gets his blood tested for mercury and if he comes out clean then you have nothing to worry about.

Have a look at the following about the hazards of mercury:

http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/pr...