Broken CFLs & Connecticut Policy

Last year we changed almost all of our light bulbs to the more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and we've saved quite a bit of money. Our electricity bill is lower, and we haven't yet had to replace any of the new bulbs. The only incandescent bulbs left in our home are in lamps that my husband is afraid might fall over. A CFL bulb contains mercury, which can be hazardous if the bulb breaks. Today, however, I changed a lamp's burnt-out incandescent to a CFL, and I did some research to convince my husband that it is worth the risk.

Mercury poisoning can cause tremors, hallucinations, kidney and liver problems, etc. But if one mercury bulb breaks in your home, there is no reason that one should experience these effects. Mercury is liquid at room temperature, but its phosphor-luminous action within a bulb requires that it be transformed by heat into vapor. The vapor is the most dangerous form of the element, so if a bulb breaks it is important to clear the room, open windows, and allow the room to air out for at least 15 minutes, according to Energy Star, a governmental group that supports this technology. Their website offers tips for cleaning the fragments from different surfaces with minimal exposure.

The best scenario for a broken CFL would be on a hard surface when the lamp is cool. Tiny pieces can be picked up using gloved hands and the ever-versatile duct tape, then everything put into a glass jar, sealed and labeled for disposal. The worst scenario would be a broken CFL on a carpeted surface when the lamp is warm. I am not convinced that Energy Star's tips could compensate for this kind of accident. One CFL usually contains less than 4 mg of the metal, but an insufficient clean-up from carpet can greatly extend the time of exposure. The exposure to mercury vapor permissible by OSHA is 0.1 mg/ m3 for 8 hours. One broken bulb whose mercury has completely vaporized might result in an average-sized room having a concentration higher than this, but only for a short time. After an hour or so with the windows open, all of the air could be exchanged. Left on carpet, however, the liquid form can be absorbed through the skin.

A single broken CFL in our home would not necessarily cause a serious problem for our family, but many broken bulbs will negatively affect the environment. The people at greatest risk of mercury poisoning from CFLs are they who might find a whole box of broken bulbs or a delivery truck in an accident. A continuous build-up or a large spill of mercury into an environment can easily invade our food supplies. Most notably, the mercury content in fish has been a concern.

Here in Connecticut, it is not illegal to throw residential mercury bulbs out with the household trash, but regarding environmental health, it is not a good decision. Household hazardous waste collection programs in Connecticut can be found at the Department of Environmental Protection's web page. Also, IKEA and Home Depot stores throughout the state have been accepting used bulbs for recycling since last year.

Using CFLs is a responsibility requiring a population that is especially careful and thoughtful. Individually we can accept this technology into our lives, gracefully and respectfully, keeping in mind the potential positive effects on our collective environments. A CFL uses about 1/5 the wattage of incandescent bulbs, and as coal electricity is the number one contributor to environmental mercury, these bulbs actually utilize the element in order to reduce its prevalence overall! It is like fighting a wild fire with one we can manage, getting a flu shot to prevent the flu, waging a war for peace... It is an imperfect step in the right direction.