Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are likely somewhere in your home. These common bulbs save money on your energy bill, but they contain a small amount of mercury. If ingested or inhaled, mercury can be hazardous to your health. See IPC tips below for safe handling and disposal.
A CFL is an energy-saving light bulb that fits into a standard light socket. A CFL lasts up to 10 times longer and uses less energy than regular light bulbs.
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that exists as a liquid, solid and gas. It can be highly toxic if inhaled or ingested. Mercury can be found in:
A CFL bulb has five milligrams of mercury, which is less than 0.0002 ounces. For comparison, a mercury thermometer contains about 100 times more mercury than a CFL. The mercury in a CFL can be an invisible vapor or a bead the size of the period at the end of this sentence. If CFLs are intact and used properly, the mercury is not released.
Inhaling mercury vapors is the main cause of mercury poisoning, as the mercury is absorbed by the lungs. Mercury poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, headache, increased blood pressure, skin rashes, metallic taste and difficulty breathing.
The risk of exposure to mercury from the occasional broken CFL bulb is very small. Using CFLs greatly reduces the amount of mercury in the air by reducing the amount of electricity that power companies need to light a standard bulb.
Do not put CFLs in your household trash since they contain mercury. CFLs should be sealed in a plastic bag and taken to a recycling site near you. To find a recycling center near you that accepts CFLs, visit www.earth911.org.
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