Breaking a CFL

Updated on March 02, 2011
R.C. asks from Saint Paul, MN
6 answers

Hello,

Saturday morning I was changing lightbulbs; we have CFLs, which contain a high amount of Mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin that is especially dangerous for children and fetuses. I am 25 weeks pregnant. One fell to the hardwood floor and smashed. Instinctively, I had my two little ones go outside while I cleaned it up. I have had an intense headache since and just read that there are specific protocols to follow when cleaning up a broken CFL that I did not know about or follow. I am wondering if there is anything a can or should do now, two days later, or if I should contact my OB. Has this happened to anyone else? I don't know how they can make an "enviromentally friendly" lightbub that can be chalk full of mercury and have such devastating effects when broken. Makes no sense to me. Thank in advance for your suggestions!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Environmentally friendly doesn't always (or even often) translate to human friendly. Take fertilizers. Natural fertilizers are chock full of pathogenic bacteria and parsites. Chemical fertilizers aren't as good for the environment... but also don't contain deadly microbes. In fact, many of the reasons that environmentally harmful things were created in the first place was to figure out a way to keep people safe/ healthy.

Absolutely contact your OB... just tell them that you've been exposed to mercury and don't know how much and is there a way for them to test or remediate?

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S.B.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I found myself in a very similar position this weekend. The globe broke over me. My husband then vacuumed and swept and walked it through the whole house. i've been a nervous wreck ever since i did online research. i never even realised they had vapourous gas or poisonous powder inside. How did you fare?

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P.U.

answers from Chicago on

I recommend calling a company like Safety-Kleen they handle these types of spills and can walk you through what to do from here. You can find them online at www.safety-kleen.com. It won't hurt to call your OB if only to make yourself less worried.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Tell your OB/GYN.

And, replace your lightbulbs with regular light bulbs. Tell your Husband to change them out.

We, do not have CFL's in our house... because of the mercury and because we have kids. But kids or not, I would not put CFL's in my house.
It is not worth it.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Here is the gov's info sheet on CFL bulbs, including proper clean up.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/lighting/cfls/downl...

I would call your OB just to be on the safe side.

They are more energy efficient but they do contain a small amount of mercury which is why I won't use them.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I have CFL and regular bulbs in my house. You should immediately open a window if a bulb breaks. Call your OB but you should be fine unless you took some mercury in. I was worried about a bulb breaking with the kids but was told that as long as we did not purposely inhale some or lick our fingers during or after cleaning up, we should be fine. I think the idea behind the bulb is good but most bulbs do not say the proper way to dispose of these things (not in the garbage) and they aren't good for most rooms in our homes if we turn the light on then off right away like a closet or something.

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