What If Cfl Light Bulb Breaks

When a bulb breaks in your home some of this mercury may be released as mercury vapor.

What if cfl light bulb breaks.

Cfls contain mercury a potentially dangerous substance that escapes from broken cfls into the immediate surroundings and therefore the breakage of a cfl bulb should be handled by carefully. Cfls and the other light bulbs listed above contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. Indeed most of the released hg may re condense due to the low volatility of hg. If you break a cfl or other fluorescent bulb follow the instructions below to keep your family home and environment safe from toxic mercury.

For more information about the dangers of mercury please visit the epa s website. The broken bulb can continue to release mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed from the residence. A broken cfl bulb can be dangerous especially for younger kids. It s true that cfl bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing and it can be released as vapor after a breakage.

Around the world governments have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energy efficient cfls. What if one breaks. Measured data suggest that a broken cfl may. This cleanup guidance represents minimum recommended actions to reduce mercury exposure and will be updated as more efficient practices are identified.

To minimize exposure to mercury vapor epa recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described below. Even if a cfl breaks total emissions are only about 1 4 milligrams. Get everyone out especially pets who might be inclined to investigate the mess then open the windows and. When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor.

Content from a broken light bulb apparently results in a wide overestimation of air concentrations of hg over time. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor epa recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page. If you break a thermometer you think may contain mercury call immediately to report the spill. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the breakage.

Under the same assumptions the electricity required to power a 60 watt incandescent bulb for its lifetime would release about 4 4 milligrams of mercury into the atmosphere dwarfing the impact of cfls with respect to the nation s overall mercury footprint. But the danger can be minimized if you act quickly and follow a proper cleanup process. Fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.