The truth about Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL's)

An email is doing the rounds warning people about the dangers associated with the clean up and disposal of broken compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL's).

Here is the truth:
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) do contain mercury and caution is required when dealing with a broken bulb.

However, the mercury cannot escape from an intact lamp and, even if the lamp should be broken, the very small amount of mercury contained in a single, modern CFL is most unlikely to cause any harm.

Mercury vapours from a broken energy saving lightbulb do not pose a significant threat to public health, according to air pollution experts.

Scientists at the Health Protection Agency have reviewed the potential health effects of mercury exposure from broken compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

They found the exposure is likely to be very small - and much lower than from other broken mercury containing products such as some types of thermometer and barometers.

Professor Virginia Murray, Consultant Medical Toxicologist, said: "Compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain a tiny amount of mercury - roughly enough to cover the tip of a ball point pen. A small proportion of this could be released into a room if the bulb is broken, but this does not pose a health risk to anyone immediately exposed.

"As a precautionary measure, the HPA advise that the room should be ventilated and the bulb cleaned up and disposed of properly."

How should I deal with a broken CFL?

In the event of an accidental breakage of a CFL, normal good housekeeping is required.

1.  Take care to prevent injury from broken glass.

2.  Vacate the room and keep children and pets out of the affected area. Shut off central air conditioning system, if you have one.

3.  Ventilate the room by opening the windows for at least 15 minutes before clean up.

4.  Do not use a vacuum cleaner, but clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid creating and inhaling airborne dust as much as possible.

5.  On hard surfaces sweep up all particles and glass fragments with stiff cardboard and place everything, including the cardboard, in a plastic bag. Wipe the area with a damp cloth and then add that to the bag. Household cleaning products should be avoided during clean up despite the very small amount of mercury involved. See the next section for cleaning carpeted surfaces.

6.  Use sticky tape to pick up small residual CFL pieces or powder from soft furnishings and then add that to the bag.

7.  The plastic bag should be reasonably sturdy and needs to be sealed, but it does not need to be air tight. The sealed plastic bag should be double-bagged to minimise cuts from broken glass.

How should I clean up if I have broken a CFL on carpet?

As mentioned earlier, the amount of mercury contained in a typical CFL is very small, up to 5 mg and is unlikely to cause any harm to human health. The level of risks involved in the case of a broken CFL on carpet is no greater than that on hard surfaces, although it may take a longer while to clean up the affected area due to the nature of the carpet surface.

The above clean up procedure should apply, but minus wiping up with a damp cloth and more attention should be paid to residual CFL pieces or powder removal using sticky tapes.

Once securely bagged, CFL waste should be disposed of via your local council's hazardous household waste facilities or handing it in at a pharmacy or doctor's practice.

Another emailed warning about CFL's that began circulating in 2007 falsely claimed that a professional - and very expensive - environmental cleanup crew is required to attend when a CFL is broken.

With many jurisdictions around the world in the process of phasing out old style light bulbs in favour of CFL's it is important that consumers are made aware of how to safely deal with broken or worn out CFL's. However, it is also important that consumers receive clear and accurate information on the topic. The rather breathless emails "warning" on the subject could hardly be said to present clear and accurate information. Rather than forward such a dubious warning, recipients may be wiser to inform friends about this issue directly and point them to a credible and up-to-date resource such as the Health Protection Agency.