However, these bulbs can pose a serious hazard if they break. Additionally, other metals used in light bulbs, such as lead and cadmium, can also vaporize and release harmful fumes.Ĭredit: Cfl Bulb Broke in My FaceĬFL bulbs are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to save energy and money. The main component of most light bulbs is mercury, which can vaporize at high temperatures and release harmful chemicals into the air. If you think you may have been exposed to mercury from a broken fluorescent bulb, it is important to seek medical attention immediately so that you can be treated and avoid any further health complications. This can lead to mercury poisoning, which can cause a variety of symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. When a fluorescent bulb breaks, the mercury inside can be released into the air and breathed in by people nearby. Mercury is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested. Yes, it is possible to get mercury poisoning from a broken fluorescent bulb. Can You Get Mercury Poisoning from a Broken Fluorescent Bulb? Next, use duct tape to pick up any small fragments or powder.įinally, wash your hands and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water. Then, carefully collect all the pieces of glass and put them in a sealable bag. If you break a light bulb with mercury in it, the first thing you should do is open a window to ventilate the area. What Should You Do If You Break a Light Bulb With Mercury in It? If you think you may have been exposed to mercury, seek medical attention immediately. Mercury vapor released from broken light bulbs can be especially dangerous if inhaled. Although mercury is essential for some industrial processes, it can be harmful to human health.Įxposure to mercury can cause neurological problems, kidney damage and other health issues. It is found in many household items, including light bulbs.

Mercury is a heavy metal that is liquid at room temperature. Learn more about LALED or follow us on Facebook.Can the Mercury in a Light Bulb Hurt You? Check with local waste disposal authorities about how to dispose of all CFLs, whether broken or notįor a handy guide on how to properly dispose of broken CFLs, click on this link, print it out and keep it in a handy place for future reference… and then consider switching to LEDs, which are currently the most promising health hazard-free alternative to CFLs!.Open windows and turn off central climate control the next few times you vacuum the room.Store sealed glass jar outside the home.Seal all debris inside a glass jar (since plastic bags will not prevent mercury vapor from escaping).Pick up fragments with cardboard rather than a vacuum cleaner.Avoid vacuuming in a mercury-contaminated area.Shut off central air conditioning or heating, for several hours if possible.

Ventilate the room by opening a window for a few minutes.Remove all people and pets from the room where the bulb broke.The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) provides the following key steps to safely cleaning up a broken CFL: What should you do if you accidentally break a CFL lightbulb?ĭon’t worry! Important precautions that you should take in order to safely dispose of broken CFLs are available. įast forward to today… perhaps now YOU are that parent concerned about protecting your children from toxic poisons. We find this information to be useful, at. But if you do happen to break a CFL bulb while you are switching it with an LED, see our earlier blog with recommendations for safe removal and clean up. We strongly recommend phasing out CFLs from your home altogether in favor of safer LED bulbs. Because mercury by its nature is cumulative, this poisonous substance would add up if all the broken and used bulbs went into a our community’s landfills. Similar to batteries, used CFLs really need to be disposed of at a toxic waste depot in your local community, rather than thrown out with the ordinary household trash.

But don’t worry, there’s no need for an enviromental HAZMAT crew to be dispersed if you break a bulb. While one broken CFL bulb does not put your family or business’s inhabitants in immediate grave danger, consider hundreds, thousands, millions of broken CFLs in our landfills, leaching into the ground. The mercury in CFL bulbs does not pose a risk if contained safely contained inside an intact bulb, but if the bulb is broken you do need to handle it with care and follow certain procedures to remove it and its contents safely. CFLs contain mercury, a potentially dangerous substance.

Mercury poisoning from broken cfl bulb