Fluorescent Bulb Break, Problem?

[OriginHacker21]

This morning at work one of the overhead lights started blinking so my co-worker and I took out all 4 of the tube fluorescent bulbs (2 were burned out - 2 were almost dead).

On the way out to the trash bin outside one was accidentally dropped and shattered with an amusing pop then the glass shattering noise. That made me the popular guy within a block radius for a few seconds... Without thinking I used my hands to pick up the big pieces then a broom to pick up the smaller pieces (this was outside).

Only after closing the dumpster did I remember something about fluorescent bulbs and mercury... So after some googling (or Yahoo searching in my case) I see that yeah, they do have mercury and you're supposed to call the poison control center if you've touched the white powder or breathed a good portion of it.

So um... I washed my hands several times really well. Undoubtedly I breathed in some of the "dust" while sweeping it up.

Anything to worry about?

 

[Schmoe]

You've released mercury vapor. Just don't breath it and you'll be fine. Don't worry about spilt milk.

 

[XS650]

What Schmoe said.

The stuff isn't good for you but one exposure won't matter unless you eat it, inhale it or inject it into your blood stream.

 

[OriginHacker21]

Ok good - didn't think it was much to worry about.

I probably inhaled a little while sweeping it up. I hope washing hands with soap got rid of all the mercury as I touched gum and my work keyboard.

Thanks for the info. The websites say the bulbs are most harmful to kids, pregnant women, and old folk. Being 22 I guess I don't have to worry bout that then.

 

[XS650]

Quote:

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Ok good - didn't think it was much to worry about.

I probably inhaled a little while sweeping it up. I hope washing hands with soap got rid of all the mercury as I touched gum and my work keyboard.

Thanks for the info. The websites say the bulbs are most harmful to kids, pregnant women, and old folk. Being 22 I guess I don't have to worry bout that then.

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It's like smoking one pack of cigarettes and then quitting. You aren't going to suffer from cumulative effects.

Mercury isn't nice stuff to play with, but kids used to play with it all the time. That could explain a lot of the posts we see here.

 

[alreadygone]

If, sometime next week you are suffering from loss of appetite, E.D., or shortness of breath,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
It most likely won't be because of light bulb.

Bob

 

[tom slick]

along with dying due to the major health risks, you're going to die in jail. It's illegal to throw florescent tubes in the garbage can, they must be recycled by law.

 

[brianl703]

Depends:

6. How should I dispose of fluorescent lamps?

Please refer to our state disposal policies page. In most states, fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs used at home can be disposed of in the same way as regular light bulbs. While all fluorescent bulbs contain a trace amount of mercury, the quantity is so minute that disposal is not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

However, if you are disposing many fluorescent lamps you should know that because they contain mercury they are classified as hazardous waste unless:

1. You, as the end-user, generate less than 100kg of hazardous waste per month (approx. 360 4' T12 lamps)

OR

2. The lamps pass the EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Test.

If the lamps meet these criteria and your state's regulation on TCLP is not stricter than the EPA's regulation, the lamps can be disposed in the same way as normal waste. However, if the lamps do not meet the criteria to be classified as normal waste, they will need to be either recycled by a lamp recycler or disposed under the hazardous waste guidelines of your state.

GE Ecolux® lamps pass federal TCLP regulations and therefore, by federal standards, are not considered hazardous waste. However, you should check with your state regulations to determine if they are stricter than the federal regulations. Other non-Ecolux lamps are not consistently TCLP-compliant.

Look for Ecolux lamps in the fluorescent section of our product catalog.

 

[moribundman]

Quote:

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You, as the end-user, generate less than 100kg of hazardous waste per month (approx. 360 4' T12 lamps)

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Who am I, Mr 'Lectro?

 

[Schmoe]

If you really want to get technical, what color were the end caps? Silver or green?

 

[joatmon]

One summer, I worked at a GE plant that made fluorescent bulbs. We used to play baseball behind the shipping dock using the tubes for a bat. I've broken hundreds if not thousands using the bulbs for "sport". That was 40 years ago. 'Course, this could explain some of my posts.

Joat

 

[OriginHacker21]

They were silver Schmoe.

Wow didn't know about throwing them away... interesting. Will look at that next time.

lol thanks for the info jaotmon - I've seen videos of people popping those things.

 

[moribundman]

Silver ends? Great, you popped the ones that contained high levels of mercury vapor. Are you one of the folks who don't get vaccinations out of fear over mercury exposure?

 

[tom slick]

In Calif. nobody can throw any amount of batteries or fluorescent tubes (and other toxic items) into the trash as of 2006.

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW/Info/

 

[mstrjon32]

I broke a CFL in my bedroom a few weeks ago, took me about 3 days of cleaning before I was satisfied, and it caused me no end of stress and anger.

The bulb I broke contained an amalgam with 2.5 mg of mercury, and according to the company that makes the bulb the free mercury will reconstitute with the amalgam as the bulb cools. Luckily, the bulb was totally cool (hadn't been used in months, actually) when it broke. Some of the mercury will bond with the phosphor coating as well, of course, but I felt a little better knowing I didn't end up with liquid mercury scattered about.

The other day my roommate broke another one, this one wasn't the brand with the mercury amalgam, so I'll just assume it had liquid mercury. He basically just cleaned it up with his bare hands, whereas I went to great lengths cleaning the one I broke up very carefully.

The commercial, long tube bulbs contain up to something like 40 mg of mercury, but being as you broke it outside, and didn't exactly hang around forever to inhale the vapor (not that you really could have outside anyway). You're big worry would be if you had broken the bulb inside; being as you broke it outside, I really wouldn't really worry about it.

 

[moribundman]

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In Calif. nobody can throw any amount of batteries or fluorescent tubes (and other toxic items) into the trash as of 2006.

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They mustn't but they can.

 

[OriginHacker21]

Yeah, I'm not worried about the mercury now - it is so small of an amount... As for throwing the bulb away - never knew that was against the law. Everyone I know throws away batteries / fluorescent bulbs/tubes in the trash so it isn't widely known that you can't in my opinion.

And Mori - I got all my vaccinations - poisoning isn't my biggest fear as I live in LA and drive many hours a day on the freeway. Mmmm love that fresh exhaust!

 

[moribundman]

There's a poster pinned up next to the trash cans in my building. The poster contains information regarding what trash goes in which can, which items must be recycled and which have to be disposed of elsewhere.

In California, every Walgreen's will take your old batteries.

 

[TallPaul]

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Are you one of the folks who don't get vaccinations out of fear over mercury exposure?

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Pretty sure the don't have mercury in vaccines any more. BTW, I understand we get most of our mercury from the air due to certain coal fired power plants. Another blessing of the anti-nuclear folks (hope this isn't getting policital).

BTW, I really like the ice cream swirl fluorescent bulbs that replace standard bulbs. First, they run a lot cooler and that make them perfect for the shop trouble light (how many times have you been burned by the metal shield of you 100 watt trouble light while wedged up under the car?). Second, we had a brownout last week, about 90 volts was being supplied, while most lights were pretty dim, I noticed those with the ice cream fluorescents were much brighter and if you had only those type bulbs, you might not even realize it was a brownout.

 

[moribundman]

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Pretty sure the don't have mercury in vaccines any more.

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You are wrong. With the exception of vaccines for pregnant women and small children most vaccines in the USA do contain a small amount of mercury as an antimicrobiotic.

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I understand we get most of our mercury from the air due to certain coal fired power plants.

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Inhalation is only one source of mercury exposure. The other major sources are food and dental fillings, fungicide and pigments like vermilion. Until the early '90s the use of mercury in interior and exterior paint was legal in the USA. That type paint did gas out mercury vapor.

There are three types of mercury: metallic, inorganic and organic. Each has different effects on the human body. Methyl mercury, which is a fat-soluble, is the most dangerous to humans. Various bacteria and fungi produce methyl mercury naturally and are the greatest contributor to methyl mercury exposure for most people.

PS: Percussion caps and primers used to and still may contain mercury fulminate.