Cfl bulb broke and cut me

Are compact fluorescent light bulbs really dangerous. Sep 27, 2011 if the cfl bulb broke in a fairly standardsized bedroom around 3 m x 3 m x 2. While breaks are not common, if and when a cfl light bulb breaks in your home, make sure you know what to do and are aware of what not to do. Jun 23, 2014 cleaning up after these mercuryfilled bulbs is a hassle, but heres how to do it safely. How dangerous is a broken compact fluorescent lamp cfl. Ds knocked over lamp and broke cfl bulb, then cut self on knee on shard.

A commenter on a previous post asked about potential mercury exposure from broken compact fluorescent lights cfls. Mercury is part of a chemical reaction over the life of the bulb, so by the time the bulb burns out its a component in an inert molecule instead of the free easilyvaporized easily absorbed atomic form. Aug 17, 2016 compact fluorescent lamps cfl bulbs first emerged on the lighting market as a more energyefficient alternative to the incandescent light bulb. Fluorescent lights get their glow from the mercury trapped inside, and the compact fluorescents. Apr 15, 2017 simple and easy way change the old cfl style to new led lighting. So, lets assume that what happens with cfls is comparable to what happens with tubular fluorescents. Mercury accumulates in small amounts in the bodies of fish. Many years ago i was told that if you ever got cut by a fluorescent bulb it would never heal. Ds called me downtairs with three little gashes on his knee and the cfl bulb was broken. Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. Quora is not a good place to seek medical or legal advice. May 04, 2008 a cfl containing 5 mg of mercury breaks in your childs bedroom that has a volume of about 25 m3 which corresponds to a medium sized bedroom. The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast in the.

Broken cfl exposure breakage mercury child ask metafilter. Manufacturers had already started producing linear fluorescents, but the linear tubes did not fit into the same socket as incandescent light bulbs. Apparently, a hazmat team does not have to get involved in the case of a broken cfl bulb. Some thermometers and light bulbs contain very small amounts of mercury. I think i might be replacing my stuff and the apartment complex will probably charge me to replace all of the carpet in the bedroom since i will be moving out in a couple of weeks. I just cut my finger not seriously on a small piece of glass from a.

Home energy magazine accidentally breaking a cfl is it. And depend on the nature of cut, you done with glass, you might need to seek help of medical professional. Sep 28, 2012 there are 5 milligrams of mercury in the average cfl. An article in the august 2009 official magazine of the illuminating engineering society of north america concluded that a worstcase scenario of mercury exposure pdf from a broken bulb is equivalent to eating one serving of fish. He wasnt in pain and i quickly picked up the glass and put it in a bag. Everyone needs to know how to properly clean up a broken. But if if is small cut, successfully washed and there are likely.

If possible, screwunscrew the cfl by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing. Why would a compact fluorescent lamp randomly turn off. The greatest danger to skin with a broken fluorescent light bulb is the chance you could be cut with glass shards, according to ge lighting. I dont think theres mercury poisoning danger with regular fluorescent bulbs. You can switch off and allow a working cfl bulb to cool before handling. Nov 02, 2008 i broke a cfl light bulb last evening and want to know if i should be concerned because it was a small space and wasnt cleaned up or vented right away. Electrician talk professional electrical contractors. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got a small cut.

It happened just a few seconds after i turned off the light and walked out of the room. Mercury is not dangerous if it touches your skin, but if you. Did you know broken compact fluorescent bulbs are toxic. As we discuss in another article, energysaving compact fluorescent lamps cfls contain small amounts of mercury, and the remnants of a broken cfl bulb should therefore be handled and. Because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors. Could cutting ones self on a broken cfl bulb cause severe injury. Cfl spill cleanup kits will be available for the residence halls in the duty offices in each residence hall. After i bought a few compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs, i heard they contain mercury. Woops you just broke a cfl light bulb in your kitchen and now that mercury trapped inside is exposed into your home. I wont post the pictures as they are pretty graphic. So i thought id take the opportunity to look at how much mercury someone could be exposed to from a broken cfl, and whether there were any risks from that. The greatest risk to you if a bulb breaks is getting cut by glass shards. But even then, some manufacturers were producing cfls that contained as little as 1.

Why is it important to clean up a broken cfl properly. Cleaning up after these mercuryfilled bulbs is a hassle, but heres how to do it safely. Cfl bulbs pose a significant fire risk with ordinary use. Find the best answer on mamapedia mom trusted since 2006. This is almost one thousand times less than what was in mercury thermometers. I turned it on the other day and then smelled smoke after a few minutes. Thats what my 12yearold son told me the other day as i sat working at my desk.

My nightowl daughter woke me in a panic at around 2 a. Tonight i was changing the cfl lightbulb in my sons. To make a long short the mercury and the phosphorus almost ate the individuals foot off. My leg hurts and i am kinda nauseousit has been a few days since the bulb broke, but i just stepped on it about an hour ago,, i cant find any info, and feeling weird makes me worry, any suggestions. Because of their efficiency, leds are generally more costly, but the energy saved on your electric bill pays off when. Jul 31, 2007 the amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. Even if a cfl breaks, total emissions are only about 1. Compact fluorescent lamps cfl s are becoming more and more common in households across the us. Under the same assumptions, the electricity required to power a 60watt incandescent bulb for its lifetime would release about 4. First many cfls have a lot less than 4mg of mercury. Compact fluorescent lamps cfl bulbs first emerged on the lighting market as a more energyefficient alternative to the incandescent light bulb. The light bulb was a three way ge reveal bulb, made in china of course. Around the world, governments have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energyefficient cfls.

Its true that cfl bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury, sealed within the glass. But, the risks associated with mercury exposure can be minimized with careful handling and disposal of the broken pieces. I also had mercurochrome or merthiolate on my body for cuts etc. Manufacturers had already started producing linear fluorescents, but the linear tubes. Cfl return locations in your area veolia north america. Mercury is not dangerous if it touches your skin, but if you get it on your hand and then hold your hand close to your face, you could inhale. Over a month ago, i broke a fluorescent bulb in my bedroom. Anyhow, if no one is exhibiting signs of mercury poisoning at the moment, i would just go on and try to clean up a bit more and leave the windows open for a. While breaks are not common, if and when a cfl light bulb breaks in your home, make sure you know what to do and are aware of what. Mercury exposure from compact fluorescent lights exposure. Aside from the inhalationskin exposure issues typically raised which are answered. If your search does not yield any results or a return center and not within an acceptable distance from you, consider purchasing mail. The bulb broke in a closet and had not been tur read more.

There are also various stories floating around the internet such as this one about the dangers of mercury in cfls. What the hell, a light bulb just exploded in my bedroom. May 12, 2016 most of the mercury in a cfl is bound to the bulb and is therefore harmless. Ds knocked over lamp and broke cfl bulb, then cut self on. May 02, 20 because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors. However, the dangers associated with mercury exposure can be reduced to a great extent with careful handling and disposal of the broken cfls. On average, an incandescent bulb may last around hours, while a fluorescent cfl bulb producing the same amount of light in lumens may last around 8,000 hours, and an equivalent led bulb may last around 25,000 hours. Mom, my reading lamp fell over, and the light bulb broke. This news came as a surprise to me, but is commonly known. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls use dramatically less energy than. Yes, but the amount of mercury in one bulb is not enough to give you serious poisoning afaik and presumably you got most of it out.

Now i am throwing up and gave diaherrea 47 minutes ago not that i know why it matters, but it was my. In 2007, when the maine dep study was conducted, cfls contained an average of 4 mg of mercury. You should not handle a cfl light bulp break the same way you handle a traditional break. The environmental protection agency has developed a handy guide on how to clean up a. Aside from the inhalationskin exposure issues typically raised which are answered in the above linked question quite well, there were pictures of a foot injury supposedly incurred from stepping on a broken cfl bulb. However, if this is a standard lamp with a screwin cfl bulb, theres a simple test you can do that only costs a couple dollars or may even be free if you have a spare cfl bulb in the house or can borrow one from a different lamp. Ive got five bulbs wrapped in bubble wrap in my basement, waiting for me to get. Maine dep researchers noted that when they broke a cfl with lower mercury content, it produced lower air mercury concentrations. A broken cfl definitely merits attention and a proper cleanup, but by following some simple instructions you can minimize your exposure and effectively eliminate the contaminant.

So i rinsed the cut in warm water for about 3 minutes. I broke a cfl light bulb last evening and want to know if i should be concerned because it was a small space and wasnt cleaned up or vented right away. Broken cfls not a serious health threat mother nature network. Dec 31, 2007 i stepped on a broken fluorescent lightbulb, and a piece of it cut the bottom of my foot. Its true that the epas guidelines for cleaning up a broken compact fluorescent light bulb sound kind of scary, but if you do break a cfl, you shouldnt loose sleep over the resulting. If you break one, its unlikely to cause any health problems. Below is a picture of a cfl light bulb from my bathroom. Can a broken thermometer or light bulb cause mercury poisoning. The amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. A compact fluorescent lamp cfl, also called compact fluorescent light, energysaving light and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent light bulb. The bulb broke in the living room and my whole main floor is open concept. Apr 27, 2012 compact fluorescent lamps cfl s are becoming more and more common in households across the us. Cfl return locations in your area use the form below to enter your zip code and mile radius that you would like to enter to search for a return center. There are 5 milligrams of mercury in the average cfl.

Home energy magazine accidentally breaking a cfl is. A 7w led bulb got broken its outer case but it is still working, would it. I walked down to my basement a little too quickly and forgot about the low ceiling and walked face first into the cfl light bulb hanging down, exploding it instantly. The clean up kit will be a bucket containing safety glasses, tape. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a bag and set the bag outside. Cleaning up a broken cfl compact fluorescent light bulbs. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a.

The checkup when a curly lightbulb breaks washington post. This information apparently came from a safety meeting. Helen suh macintosh is a professor in environmental health at harvard university and studies how pollution behaves in the environment and how it. A friend of mine sent me a email about a individual that had steeped on a broken cfl with out shoes on. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got. Measured data suggest that a broken cfl may produce hg concentrations of 8 to 20. I just cut my finger not seriously on a small piece of. Only then did i read on the bulb that it contains mercury. Simple and easy way change the old cfl style to new led lighting. Aug 03, 2011 after i bought a few compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs, i heard they contain mercury. I didnt really safely clean it up since i couldnt find all of the pieces, and i was in a really bad mood so i sort of ignored it. The ip was admitted to hospital for treatment of the cuts. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. Maxlite mlsgusww6 70441 twist style twist and lock base compact fluorescent light bulb.

The environmental protection agency has developed a handy guide on how to clean up a broken cfl bulb, which you can find using the link below. The researchers suggest that in the case of a broken cfl, you should immediately open a nearby window. The entire 5 mg of mercury vaporizes immediately an unlikely occurrence, resulting in an airborne mercury concentration in this room of 0. Apr 14, 2009 its true that the epas guidelines for cleaning up a broken compact fluorescent light bulb sound kind of scary, but if you do break a cfl, you shouldnt loose sleep over the resulting. Then only about 10% of the mercury is released when a bulb breaks the rest is adsorbed onto the surfaces in the bulb and will go away with the broken glass. Mar 11, 2008 i was washing my hands when i remembered. Cfl bulbs are another type of energy efficient bulb, much like the led. If they are broken, special handling is necessary to prevent being poisoned by mercury or cut with glass coated with phosphor.

While swatting at a fly, shed just broken the compact fluorescent light illuminating her closet. Jul 01, 2017 quora is not a good place to seek medical or legal advice. When i was a kid, my brothers and i used to climb up on the roof and play zeus, throwing spent fluorescent tubes on the sidewalk below. Electrician talk professional electrical contractors forum. How could mercury released from a broken cfl affect health. If your search does not yield any results or a return center and not within an acceptable distance from you, consider purchasing mailback containers to recycle at home. Photographs show a foot injury caused by stepping on a broken cfl bulb. Fluorescent light bulbs contain phosphor and mercury. My wife just sent me a bulletin concerning mercury exposure from cfl bulbs. I just called poison control and they told me that there is such a tiny amount of mercury in a cfl bulb would fit on the tip of a ball point pen, and only is dangerous when heated up but not in such a small amount. First, increase the ventilation in the room where the bulb broke by. I stepped on a broken fluorescent lightbulb, and a piece of it cut the bottom of my foot. Could cutting ones self on a broken cfl bulb cause severe.

Jun 23, 2014 how to clean up a broken cfl light bulb. How to clean up a broken cfl light bulb video cnet. You can handle cfl bulbs carefully to avoid breakage. Should i be worried if a cfl bulb broke on my head. And depend on the nature of cut, you done with glass, you might need.

There are no positive health effects from a broken cfl, and you can reduce your exposure. It seems to be the homerelated maintenance issues that get me. The compact fluorescent lamplight cfl bulbs contain mercury, which can get released into the atmosphere when these bulbs are broken. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got a. A broken fluorescent light bulb can also expose you to mercury. The amount of mercury in a light bulb is extremely small however precautions must still be taken. In a 2012 study, a team of researchers at the aristotle university of thessaloniki in greece. In reality, broken compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs can release mercury, and hence can be dangerous at times.