subject: Fluorescent Lighting Risks - Why Led Bulbs Are Indeed The Much Better Option [print this page] Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) along with more standard fluorescent lamps are being assertively marketed as environmentally friendly due to their reduced electricity utilization. Indeed, widespread replacement of incandescent bulbs with CFLs will bring down electricity demand; however, there are questions of safety that ultimately contribute to making LED lighting the premium quality choice. Knowing fluorescent lighting dangers can help guarantee that fluorescent light bulbs are used and discarded safely while explaining why LED lighting is the safest and most eco-friendly lighting choice in the long run.
Mercury
One of the most commonly mentioned fluorescent lighting hazard is mercury. Fluorescent and CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and are identified with the elemental symbol Hg. When these bulbs are cool, some of the mercury in the fixture is in liquid form, but while the lamp is operating or when the lamp is warm, most of the mercury is in a gaseous or vapor form.
Mercury mist is extremely poisonous. Even in liquid form, exposure to mercury is regarded life-threatening or a "severe" risk to health. Even small doses of mercury may cause severe respiratory tract damage, mind damage, kidney damage, central nervous system damage, and several other serious medical conditions.
Disposed off poorly, mercury can infect buildings, landfills, rivers, wildlife, fish, birds, humans, vegetation and rivers. In the US, the EPA has required waste handlers to handle fluorescent lamps as harmful waste. Up to 95 percent of the mercury found in CFLs can be extracted if the bulbs are recycled properly.
Mercury-containing lamps generated by houses and firms are not always determined by legal regulations, regarding their disposal. State laws differ and some states, such as California, Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Vermont and also Massachusetts, prohibit all the mercury-containing bulbs, including CFLs, from being flushed out in the solid waste stream.
Because mercury could be released if a fluorescent lamp is destroyed, it is important to install fixtures in locations the lamps are not likely to be broken. Fixtures in areas close to the ground or in areas with moving equipment should use metal or plastic shields to protect the lamp from being shattered. If a fluorescent lamp breaks or cracks, there are lots of safety and cleanup issues which we will discuss in more detail in the following section.
Breakage
Fluorescent lamps produce several hazards if shattered. Based on the type, there may be a partial vacuum or the lamp may be under pressure. Breaking the glass can cause shrapnel injuries, as well as the release of mercury and other hazardous compounds.
The greatest immediate injury threat from a damaged lamp is from the phosphor-coated glass. If cut with fluorescent lamp glass, almost any phosphor that gets into the wound is likely to hinder blood clotting and will interfere with recovery. Such injuries should be handled seriously and immediate medical assistance should be obtained for anyone or domestic pets that are cut. Medical staff must be told that the wounds were due to a damaged fluorescent lamp, and that mercury was present.
To reduce exposure to mercury steam, EPA and other industry experts advise a few measures. Children and pets should stay away from the area, and windows must be opened for at least 15 minutes in order that vapors may spread. Scrubbing can be done by hand using limited use materials. Use rubber disposable gloves and scoop up the materials using hard paper or cardboard. Get sticky tape to pick up small bits and powder, sanitize the area with a damp paper towel, and wipe out the materials in an outside trash can. Never use a vacuum since this will only disperse the mercury vapor and leave particles buried in the cleaner bag.
