Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury

[scsigrl]

I was wondering....

DH switched all our light bulbs to Cf's. Now I am totally freaked out about what if they break? They would release mercury vapor into the house. And you can't just throw them out, they need to go to special facilities that can deal with them.

Are they really better then regular light bulbs with all these other issues?

[lindberg99]

Snopes has a pretty good article about the mercury issue with some other links http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

We've used the compact fluorescents for a while and haven't had one break yet. They've been in lamps that have fallen on a carpeted floor and that didn't break them. But I'd be careful if you are using them somewhere that they could fall on tile or another hard type of floor.

[ErikaLeigh]

I have had one break and there is a VERY specific way that you have to clean them

First! Open windows or doors and let in the air. Don't get right on top of it and breath it in! It's harmful to your lungs!

DO NOT USE A VACCUM Cleaner!

You need to get a broom and sweep up large parts of the bulb, then get a damp rag and kinda like blot the area to get up the small peices.

I hope that makes sense and if you need more info, just pm me! Or with questions!

[scsigrl]

Thanks. I think I have a touch of PPI (post partum insanity) and everything worries me. DH just said that LED bulbs are coming out and they are mercury free.

Thanks for the link and the other info!

[Amatullah]

I have all daylight spectrum CFL bulbs and just love them. The white light is so much nicer than the yellowish light that you get from regular bulbs or CFL bulbs. They also last so much longer and use up much less energy so for me they are totally worth it. I've had a few fall on hard tile floor without breaking (can't say that for a regular bulb!). Thanks lindberg99 for the link and ErikaLeigh for the info on cleaning them up. Will have to do some more research... just in case!

[eden/averymum]

I didn't know any of this!!

how do I know if this is a problem for my bulbs? is it so for all energy efficient bulbs?? yikes!

it never ends does it. nothing is safe :sigh