Fluorescent bulbs poison environment, kids

[Rosuav]

What is a "light bulb" here? Presumably you mean those bound-up fluros that screws into a socket originally designed for an incandescent bulb, but - what wattage? What design? I'm sure they're not all identical.

Assume you have a 5mg bulb, though. That's 100 cubic meters' worth of the stuff, according to a recommended maximum. Okay. My lounge room is probably about 6m by 6m by 3m, which breaks 100. It's a tad larger than most (we have high ceilings in our house, for starters), but most rooms will probably be at least 5x4x2.5, I'm guessing. That's 50m3. Question for the scientifically-minded: If a bulb is broken, will ALL the mercury escape at once, or will some stay inside the bulb? And, question for the logically-minded: How much tolerance is there in the "recommended exposure limit"? I'd say they put quite a bit in. So if your room's not too small, the convoluted shape of the bulb keeps some of it in, and/or your body is tougher than average and can stand more than 0.05 mg/m3, then you'll survive.

But I don't advise you hold a bulb under your nose, smash it, and inhale the vapour. Apart from everything else, you'll get glass all over yourself.

[Grantref]

Originally posted by anthson
Lay off the h8orade. I don't even know what World Net Daily is. As for fear mongering, I'm not exactly a green person, so I have no reason to monger in fear over the environment. I just found it interesting these things are toxic.

This whole mercury in CFL bulb business is a scare started by anti-environmentalists who think that the government is going to outlaw incandescent bulbs if something isn't done to turn environmentalists off of CFL bulbs.

There's far more mercury in a thermometer or a smoke detector.

If you break one of these, open a window to let the vapor escape, and be careful to sweep up all the broken glass. Simple.

[Rosuav]

I still wanna see more LEDs. They use less power, last longer, and are heaps geekier

[Blog]

The mercury concentration is going to be highest around the spill. If you're unlucky enough to spill on carpet, its unlikely you can get any of the mercury out as you're not supposed to vacuum it up because the heat vaporizes the mercury, which is what you're trying to avoid. If OSHA came into my work today and found a mercury level higher than the limit from the link I posted, the place would be shut down. Apparently at home where you have kids and pets present, who presumably have a lower threshold, it is fine to just sweep up what you can and open a window then not think about it again.

I think the mercury risk is being downplayed because CFLs are now politically correct. Semi-relatedly, I think second hand smoke risk is exaggerated because smoking is politically incorrect. Everyone (except employers) is free to make their own choices on the matter and act accordingly.

[anthson]

Originally posted by Grantref
starteThis whole mercury in CFL bulb business is a scared ...

If you break one of these, open a window to let the vapor escape, and be careful to sweep up all the broken glass. Simple.

Okay. So you say. Then ...

Originally posted by Blog
0.05 mg/m3 is National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's recommended exposure limit; NIOSH-recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 10-h time-weighted-average exposure and/or ceiling. Again, 1 lightbulb is 5 mg.

How big is your room?

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/mercury.html

And now go back and read what I said ...

Originally posted by anthson
I've read a few articles on the Internet regarding mercury poisoning and these light bulbs. Frankly, they all vary in terms of just how dangerous a bulb is. They all recommend the same type of clean-up, but one will say the danger is minimal and the other will say the danger is high.

And then you accuse me of being an alarmist fear monger and insist I'm reading some newspaper I don't even know about. What's wrong with you?

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by anthson
What's wrong with you?

You had a fine post until that last comment.

Is it impossible for you to resist making an attack?

Was the "What's wrong with you?" part really necessary?

[Kravenar]

Originally posted by Blog

0.05 mg/m3 is National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's recommended exposure limit; NIOSH-recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 10-h time-weighted-average exposure and/or ceiling. Again, 1 lightbulb is 5 mg.

How big is your room?

The are a couple of things that need to be considered in applying the standard to this scenario.

What form does the Mercury take within these bulbs? Is it "loose" and available or somehow otherwise bound up chemically so as it can't actually get loose.

Also the NIOSH standard quoted aplies to "airborne concentrations" ... if you look at it in full context it relates the to airborne concentration of the specified contaminant within the "breathing zone" of the person.

In Australia at least (who very closely follow US Guidleines on these things) breathing zone is actually defined as a hemisphere extending 300mm (approx 1 foot) from the persons face.

What does this mean?

1) The standard doesn't even apply unless the mercury is atomised when the bulb is broken (ie. a 5mg puddle on the ground does not come under the standard).

2) Airborn hazard can easily be managed by opening windows and leaving the room or switching on air moving units like fans or colling units that will disperse and "change out" the atmosphere quickly.

3) Despite all this.. bending done and sniffing intently at the broken shattered remains of a bulb, including glass powder, metal bits, and whatever else - is probably still bad for your health.

To put it in context 1,1,1 trichloroethane (aka Liquid paper thinner) has a time weighted average (TWA) safe limit of 125 parts per million, equivalent to 680mg / cubic meter. Yet last I looked they sold it straight in 30ml bottles, and its something we often use right in front of our noses.

[Rosuav]

Originally posted by kravenar
3) Despite all this.. bending done and sniffing intently at the broken shattered remains of a bulb, including glass powder, metal bits, and whatever else - is probably still bad for your health.

To put it in context 1,1,1 trichloroethane (aka Liquid paper thinner) has a time weighted average (TWA) safe limit of 125 parts per million, equivalent to 680mg / cubic meter. Yet last I looked they sold it straight in 30ml bottles, and its something we often use right in front of our noses.

Yes, and - putting these together - it's not a good idea to apply whiteout right in front of your nose. It's not the only commonly-used item which can be dangerous if misused - you could kill yourself inside a computer's power supply fairly easily, and if you slam a door on your toe it is going to hurt. These are not considered major dangers to fear, just cases where common sense must prevail.

[Kravenar]

GEE THERE GOOD!

This story believe it or not made the late night news here tonight. Other bloody slow news day (wouldn't think so..steam pipe explosion in NY and police officer shot dead in QLD) or maybe they're just slow on the uptake down here.

If anyone has any other late breaking news like who killed JFK.. please fill us in cause we're obviously a little behind down under.