What Should You Do If A CFL Bulb Breaks In Your Home?

On Tuesday, we told you about the new CFL bulbs, which will replace most incandescent types of electric illumination in Ontario by 2012. But while the lights fantastic offer more wattage for less power and last for years, there’s one problem some homeowners may not have considered – what’s in them.

The new products contain a small amount of mercury and if they break, they can potentially lead to serious health problems.  Kris Reyes brought eight of the CFL bulbs to Cambridge Materials Testing in Mississauga and with the assistance of staff there broke them open to see whether the amount of mercury let out into the air exceeded Ministry of Labour standards. The limit for airborne mercury is 25 mg per cubic metre.

A special device measured how much mercury was let out into the air when the bulbs cracked open, and though the numbers did go up as more bulbs broke they didn’t stay up for long, and within half an hour the reading was back to zero. According to the Ministry of Labour, for mercury levels to be dangerous they must stay at 25 mg per cubic metre for the whole day.

“Compact fluorescents have mercury in it, but so does coal-fired electricity. So when we make electricity a lot of mercury comes out of those stacks. When you use CFLs, you use a lot less or a lot less mercury gets produced and emitted into the environment,” explains Frank Hartmann of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

That news comes as a relief to moms like Patti Ryan, who wants to ensure her home is as safe as possible for her family.

“The issue of light bulbs is about as confusing for us as every other thing we’re reading about,” she says.

Here’s a look at what actions experts advise if a CFL breaks in your house.
 
Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

• Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
• Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. 

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces 

• Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug 

• Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
• Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

• Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
• Check with your local government about disposal requirements in your specific area. 

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming 

• The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
• Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.
   
  Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Here are some other reference links to examine the problems for yourself.
 
New concerns raised over CFLs
 
Woman discovers dangers of CFLs
 
Dangers of CFLs?