Cfl bulb broke and cut me

Electrician talk professional electrical contractors forum. Could cutting ones self on a broken cfl bulb cause severe. Apr 27, 2012 compact fluorescent lamps cfl s are becoming more and more common in households across the us. If your search does not yield any results or a return center and not within an acceptable distance from you, consider purchasing mail.

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. May 01, 2007 previous ask treehugger columns can be found here. This information apparently came from a safety meeting. Below is a picture of a cfl light bulb from my bathroom. I just cut my finger not seriously on a small piece of glass from a. Some thermometers and light bulbs contain very small amounts of mercury. The bulb broke in the living room and my whole main floor is open concept. 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. Home energy magazine accidentally breaking a cfl is.

Aug 17, 2016 compact fluorescent lamps cfl bulbs first emerged on the lighting market as a more energyefficient alternative to the incandescent light bulb. The compact fluorescent lamplight cfl bulbs contain mercury, which can get released into the atmosphere when these bulbs are broken. Ds called me downtairs with three little gashes on his knee and the cfl bulb was broken. The environmental protection agency has developed a handy guide on how to clean up a. Ds knocked over lamp and broke cfl bulb, then cut self on knee on shard. The clean up kit will be a bucket containing safety glasses, tape. Quora is not a good place to seek medical or legal advice. The amount of mercury in a light bulb is extremely small however precautions must still be taken. I just cut my finger not seriously on a small piece of. Dec 31, 2007 i stepped on a broken fluorescent lightbulb, and a piece of it cut the bottom of my foot. In a 2012 study, a team of researchers at the aristotle university of thessaloniki in greece. You should not handle a cfl light bulp break the same way you handle a traditional break. How dangerous is a broken compact fluorescent lamp cfl. Cleaning up a broken cfl compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Cfl return locations in your area veolia north america. I went to the internets to check and, after running off to take a panic shower, found some news that made me feel a little better and a little worse. Maine dep researchers noted that when they broke a cfl with lower mercury content, it produced lower air mercury concentrations. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a.

Because of their efficiency, leds are generally more costly, but the energy saved on your electric bill pays off when. While swatting at a fly, shed just broken the compact fluorescent light illuminating her closet. 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. The greatest risk to you if a bulb breaks is getting cut by glass shards. Everyone needs to know how to properly clean up a broken. Only then did i read on the bulb that it contains mercury. 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. How to clean up a broken cfl light bulb video cnet. 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. There are also various stories floating around the internet such as this one about the dangers of mercury in cfls. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got a.

Sep 27, 2011 if the cfl bulb broke in a fairly standardsized bedroom around 3 m x 3 m x 2. So i rinsed the cut in warm water for about 3 minutes. Mom, my reading lamp fell over, and the light bulb broke. Manufacturers had already started producing linear fluorescents, but the linear tubes. Could cutting ones self on a broken cfl bulb cause severe injury. Ive got five bulbs wrapped in bubble wrap in my basement, waiting for me to get. Broken cfls not a serious health threat mother nature network. It seems to be the homerelated maintenance issues that get me. Cfl bulbs are another type of energy efficient bulb, much like the led. A broken fluorescent light bulb can also expose you to mercury.

Mercury accumulates in small amounts in the bodies of fish. The checkup when a curly lightbulb breaks washington post. A 7w led bulb got broken its outer case but it is still working, would it. 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. So, lets assume that what happens with cfls is comparable to what happens with tubular fluorescents. First many cfls have a lot less than 4mg of mercury. Aug 03, 2011 after i bought a few compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs, i heard they contain mercury.

This is almost one thousand times less than what was in mercury thermometers. The light bulb was a three way ge reveal bulb, made in china of course. 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. You can limit contamination by gathering up the large pieces of the broken bulb into a bag and set the bag outside. 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. Why is it important to clean up a broken cfl properly. 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. 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.

Apparently, a hazmat team does not have to get involved in the case of a broken cfl bulb. Photographs show a foot injury caused by stepping on a broken cfl bulb. 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. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got. I turned it on the other day and then smelled smoke after a few minutes. What the hell, a light bulb just exploded in my bedroom.

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. Ds knocked over lamp and broke cfl bulb, then cut self on. The researchers suggest that in the case of a broken cfl, you should immediately open a nearby window. Jun 23, 2014 how to clean up a broken cfl light bulb. Jul 31, 2007 the amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. It happened just a few seconds after i turned off the light and walked out of the room. 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. Measured data suggest that a broken cfl may produce hg concentrations of 8 to 20. 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. My nightowl daughter woke me in a panic at around 2 a. But even then, some manufacturers were producing cfls that contained as little as 1. Tonight i was changing the cfl lightbulb in my sons.

Because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors. You can handle cfl bulbs carefully to avoid breakage. Compact fluorescent lamps cfl s are becoming more and more common in households across the us. 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. 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.

May 02, 20 because with an incandescent, a broken bulb makes a mess, but with a cfl, it makes mercury vapors. 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. Aside from the inhalationskin exposure issues typically raised which are answered. 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. 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. I wont post the pictures as they are pretty graphic. 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. This news came as a surprise to me, but is commonly known. How could mercury released from a broken cfl affect health. A friend of mine sent me a email about a individual that had steeped on a broken cfl with out shoes on. Around the world, governments have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energyefficient cfls. 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. Apr 15, 2017 simple and easy way change the old cfl style to new led lighting. If you break one, its unlikely to cause any health problems.

Manufacturers had already started producing linear fluorescents, but the linear tubes did not fit into the same socket as incandescent light bulbs. There are no positive health effects from a broken cfl, and you can reduce your exposure. Compact fluorescent lamps cfl bulbs first emerged on the lighting market as a more energyefficient alternative to the incandescent light bulb. I dont think theres mercury poisoning danger with regular fluorescent bulbs. However, the dangers associated with mercury exposure can be reduced to a great extent with careful handling and disposal of the broken cfls. But, the risks associated with mercury exposure can be minimized with careful handling and disposal of the broken pieces. Helen suh macintosh is a professor in environmental health at harvard university and studies how pollution behaves in the environment and how it. I stepped on a broken fluorescent lightbulb, and a piece of it cut the bottom of my foot. 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. May 12, 2016 most of the mercury in a cfl is bound to the bulb and is therefore harmless. In reality, broken compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs can release mercury, and hence can be dangerous at times. Thats what my 12yearold son told me the other day as i sat working at my desk. 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. 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.

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. Find the best answer on mamapedia mom trusted since 2006. Jul 01, 2017 quora is not a good place to seek medical or legal advice. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls use dramatically less energy than. 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. I also had mercurochrome or merthiolate on my body for cuts etc. There are 5 milligrams of mercury in the average cfl. Under the same assumptions, the electricity required to power a 60watt incandescent bulb for its lifetime would release about 4. Its true that cfl bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury, sealed within the glass. And depend on the nature of cut, you done with glass, you might need. The bulb broke in a closet and had not been tur read more. To make a long short the mercury and the phosphorus almost ate the individuals foot off. He wasnt in pain and i quickly picked up the glass and put it in a bag.

And depend on the nature of cut, you done with glass, you might need to seek help of medical professional. Maxlite mlsgusww6 70441 twist style twist and lock base compact fluorescent light bulb. What should i do if i stepped on a cfl light bulb and got a small cut. Fluorescent lights get their glow from the mercury trapped inside, and the compact fluorescents. Should i be worried if a cfl bulb broke on my head. Even if a cfl breaks, total emissions are only about 1. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. The ip was admitted to hospital for treatment of the cuts. Jun 23, 2014 cleaning up after these mercuryfilled bulbs is a hassle, but heres how to do it safely. Home energy magazine accidentally breaking a cfl is it. Simple and easy way change the old cfl style to new led lighting. Are compact fluorescent light bulbs really dangerous. Sep 28, 2012 there are 5 milligrams of mercury in the average cfl. Mar 11, 2008 i was washing my hands when i remembered.

Many years ago i was told that if you ever got cut by a fluorescent bulb it would never heal. My wife just sent me a bulletin concerning mercury exposure from cfl bulbs. Can a broken thermometer or light bulb cause mercury poisoning. Why would a compact fluorescent lamp randomly turn off. 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. Cleaning up after these mercuryfilled bulbs is a hassle, but heres how to do it safely. 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. After i bought a few compact fluorescent light cfl bulbs, i heard they contain mercury. Mercury exposure from compact fluorescent lights exposure. If possible, screwunscrew the cfl by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing. Electrician talk professional electrical contractors.

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. The amount of mercury in a cfl is very small, only 45 milligrams. In 2007, when the maine dep study was conducted, cfls contained an average of 4 mg of mercury. Did you know broken compact fluorescent bulbs are toxic. 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. Mercury is not dangerous if it touches your skin, but if you. A commenter on a previous post asked about potential mercury exposure from broken compact fluorescent lights cfls. Woops you just broke a cfl light bulb in your kitchen and now that mercury trapped inside is exposed into your home. Broken cfl exposure breakage mercury child ask metafilter. Cfl bulbs pose a significant fire risk with ordinary use.

The entire 5 mg of mercury vaporizes immediately an unlikely occurrence, resulting in an airborne mercury concentration in this room of 0. Fluorescent light bulbs contain phosphor and mercury. Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. But if if is small cut, successfully washed and there are likely. First, increase the ventilation in the room where the bulb broke by. If they are broken, special handling is necessary to prevent being poisoned by mercury or cut with glass coated with phosphor. Cfl spill cleanup kits will be available for the residence halls in the duty offices in each residence hall. Now i am throwing up and gave diaherrea 47 minutes ago not that i know why it matters, but it was my.