Can I get mercury poisoning from a broken light bulb?
Can I get mercury poisoning from a broken light bulb?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain small amounts of mercury. A small percentage of this mercury can be released into the air if the bulbs are broken. Mercury can cause poisoning in some circumstances. Even so, people are encouraged to replace their “old fashioned” incandescent bulbs with CFLs.
What should I do if I break a mercury light bulb?
Remove children and pets from the room, and then clean up the broken bulb as quickly as possible. First, increase the ventilation in the room where the bulb broke by opening windows and doors. Then use index cards or other stiff paper to pick up the broken pieces of glass and any visible mercury.
Is it dangerous if a fluorescent tube breaks?
When broken, mercury vapors may be released into the air. The mercury released from broken bulb is mostly in vapor form. If properly cleaned up, broken bulbs or CFLs do not pose a serious health risk.
What to do if I broke a fluorescent bulb?
Shut off the air-conditioning or heating system. Wipe up the broken glass and powder, seal them in a container and dispose of them. Check with your local government about disposal requirements. Some communities require that trashed fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center.
How much mercury vapor is toxic?
Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction. Mild, subclinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be seen in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air of 20 μg/m3 or more for several years.
How dangerous is a broken mercury light bulb?
If you break a mercury thermometer or light bulb, a small amount of liquid mercury may spill out. Liquid mercury can separate into small beads, which can roll some distance away. The mercury may also evaporate into vapour. However, this small amount of mercury is extremely unlikely to cause problems for your health.
How much mercury is in a 4 foot fluorescent bulb?
The average mercury content of a 4-foot-long bulb manufactured today is approximately 12 mg.
What should you do if you are exposed to mercury?
The effects of mercury exposure can be very severe, subtle, or may not occur at all, depending on the factors above. Anyone with concerns about mercury exposure can consult their physician and/or their poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
What happens if you breathe in mercury vapor?
The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
When was the high pressure mercury vapor lamp installed?
High Pressure Mercury vapor lamps were all over around Athens even before the author was born and some have still survived. One day in 1977-1978 after the suggestion of his father, the author observed for the first time the lamp which was installed outside his family’s apartment.
What happens when a CFL light bulb breaks?
CFLs and the other light bulbs listed above contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury may be released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page.
Where to dispose of broken compact fluorescent light bulbs?
Next, check with your local government about disposal requirements in your area, because some localities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash.
How many electrodes are in a mercury vapor lamp?
Four electrodes, two main ones and two auxiliary ones, are sealed against the ends of the fused silica tube (many manufacturers include only three electrodes, two main ones and one auxiliary one). Fig. 1: Internal Lamp schematics for the High Pressure Mercury Vapor Lamp.
