Broken Light Bulbs and Mercury Vapor

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http://blog.drdavidwilliams.com/blog/dr-david-williams/0/0/broken-light-bulbs-and-mercury-vapor

courtesy of David Williams Blog

Published 07/21/10

When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, enough mercury vapor is released that the place should be considered a hazardous waste site to be decontaminated by experts. Obviously, that never happens. In fact, most people aren’t even aware that breathing the released vapors or coming into contact with the broken bulb are dangerous. The EPA is.

Not only did the EPA provide a special exemption to even sell mercury-containing fluorescent lamps to the public, they also have very specific guidelines for cleaning up a broken bulb. Until I researched the subject, I had no idea of just how dangerous a broken bulb could be. I doubt many people do.

According to the EPA, there are very specific guidelines you should follow to clean up a broken fluorescent light bulb:

Open a window if there is one, and leave the room for at least 15 minutes (and restrict access to others).
Remove all you can without using a vacuum:
- Wearing disposable rubber gloves, scoop up everything you can, including the powder, using stiff paper or cardboard.
- Use sticky tape such as duct tape to pick up the remaining small pieces and powder.
- Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
- Place all cleanup materials into a plastic bag and seal it. If your area allows it, dispose of the bag in an outdoor trash receptacle. (They don’t give any suggestions for final disposal if your local government doesn’t allow you to put CFLs in the trash.)
Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, then remove the collector bag or wipe out the canister. Put the debris in a plastic bag, seal it, then put it in a second bag. Dispose as above.

Given the EPA’s inconsistent track record, at this point it’s hard to tell whether they’re being alarmist or conservative. Regardless, a broken bulb is something you need to take seriously.

For more information on how to detoxify the body, eliminating body toxins, or liver detoxification, visit Dr. Williams’ Web site.

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