Mercury in CFL bulbs not a threat

February 24, 2009

Should I be concerned about the mercury in compact fluorescent light bulbs?

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are extremely safe. They do contain small amounts of mercury — on average about 4 milligrams — or an amount about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Compare that with about 500 milligrams in the old thermometers our mothers used.

Mercury within CFLs is completely sealed within the bulb, but can be released if the bulb breaks. However, you'd have to drop about 125 CFL bulbs to equal the amount of mercury released by dropping one of Mom's old thermometers.

That being said, mercury is a toxic metal that can cause physical harm. Always handle CFL bulbs carefully and do not force them to fit a fixture.

When they burn out, which will be rarely, do not place them in the garbage.

Recycle them at a recycling center. All Home Depots and Globe Lighting now recycle the bulbs. In addition, Vancouver's Central Transfer and Recovery Center and West Van Materials Recovery Center, and Philip Services Corporation in Washougal take them.

Burned-out bulbs can also be taken to any Clark Public Utilities office, where utility customers will receive a replacement bulb without charge.

Addressing the source

Ironically, using CFLs can prevent mercury from entering the air, since the nation's highest source of mercury comes from power plants burning coal. Since a CFL uses 75 percent less energy and lasts years longer, a power plant will emit 10 milligrams of mercury to produce electricity for an incandescent light bulb, but only 2.4 milligrams of mercury to run a CFL for an equal amount of time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That's not a major issue here, since less than 2 percent of the power used in Clark County comes from coal, but it's a significant national issue.

If you break a bulb, the EPA suggests:

1. Open a window and restrict access to the room for at least 15 minutes.

2. Wear disposable gloves and remove all broken material you can without using a vacuum; use tape or a wet paper towel to pick up tiny pieces.

3. Seal all clean up materials in a plastic bag and place that into another sealed plastic bag.

4. If you vacuum, dispose of the used vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag.

5. Wash your hands with soap and water after cleanup.

Exposure from a broken CFL is not likely to cause harm because of the tiny amount of mercury in them as well as the duration of your exposure. The good news is that, according to the Energy Star program, the average mercury content in CFLs has dropped at least 20 percent in the past year.