Compact Fluorescent Lights = A Potential Bio-Hazard

Ever broken a light bulb? I have, and I'm sure I'm not alone. If its the old incandescent variety just sweep or vacuum it up, end of story. But if its a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) be prepared for a lengthy clean up. CFLs contain mercury so extra precaution needs to be taken. For those unfamiliar mercury is toxic, and can lead to serious health complications for people, pets and even a fetus. Obviously mercury is something to be avoided, but I'm betting there are many people who aren't even aware that mercury is a key component in Compact Fluorescent Lights.

So what do you do if a CFL breaks inside your home? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) there are several steps you need to follow:

1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

These steps are crucial because mercury can become airborne and you don't want to be inhaling a toxin. The next steps depend on whether the bulb broke on a hard or carpeted surface.

Hard Surfaces

1. Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
3. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
4. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Carpets and Rugs

1. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
3. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
4. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

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You might think that would be enough, but its not. There's still more procedures for what to do with clothing, bedding and any other materials that might have come into contact with the broken bulb. On top of that they list procedures for disposing of clean-up materials and give further instruction on future cleaning of the affected area.

You can view the entire article here: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/

I was aware that CFLs contain mercury, but I was not aware that so much was required to clean up after breaking one. I have my brother, a father of two young boys, to thank for putting me onto this. I also have two kids, so I've given serious consideration to chucking all the CFLs in the garbage! Oooops, not so fast. They have to be disposed of properly, thankfully Home Depot has a repository for them. Wouldn't want that nasty mercury leaching through the soil in a landfill, finding its way into the ground water and then later possibly the food chain.

I'm not chucking them though. I'm just going to be smart about where I place them. Not in the kids' rooms, or in places where a stray ball or toy could break them.

It never fails, whenever a new "green" technology comes out there always seems to be some potentially hazardous side effects.

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