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I'd be pretty happy to get away from compact fluorescencts. They're filled with mercury gas (I think). It's bad news if you break one and inhale it. And I'm

I'd be pretty happy to get away from compact fluorescencts. They're filled with mercury gas (I think). It's bad news if you break one and inhale it. And I'm not sure what happens to the mercury when you dispose of them either. Edit: For you downvoters out there, it is considered a serious risk. Here's another article about the problems: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198

Nursie 13y ago
It's no big deal. www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/news/4217864 If you make a habit of breaking them open near your face and inhaling the gas, you probably have bigger problems. I've read that the actual average mercury exposure from a broken CFL is less than 10% of the mercury exposure from a serving of tuna.
- tocomment 13y ago
  Yeah they say that, but then in that same article look at the advice for cleaning up a broken CFL. If it's no big deal, why do I need to open the windows, wear gloves, etc? What is the proper way to handle a broken CFL? Open the windows and let the room air out for 15 to 30 minutes, then remove as much material as possible without a vacuum cleaner. Using disposable gloves, scoop the glass onto a piece of cardboard and wipe the area with a wet paper towel. For smaller pieces of glass and powder, use duct tape to pull up the fragments and wash your hands after cleaning up the debris.
  - Nursie 13y ago
    To make you feel better. I really don't think it's much of an issue.
  - smackfu 13y ago
    Overly paranoid article.
    - sigkill 13y ago
      More like CYA article.
- natch 13y ago
  I had upwards of 20 CFL light bulbs in my house and over time I noticed that they typically were cracking at the base, thereby leaking whatever was in them, after a few years of use. After you replace 20 with 20 more, and repeat a few times, the numbers start to add up. I decided to get rid of them. And I don't eat tuna.

Nursie 13y ago

It's no big deal. www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/news/4217864 If you make a habit of breaking them open near your face and inhaling the gas, you probably have bigger problems. I've read that the actual average mercury exposure from a broken CFL is less than 10% of the mercury exposure from a serving of tuna.

tocomment 13y ago
Yeah they say that, but then in that same article look at the advice for cleaning up a broken CFL. If it's no big deal, why do I need to open the windows, wear gloves, etc? What is the proper way to handle a broken CFL? Open the windows and let the room air out for 15 to 30 minutes, then remove as much material as possible without a vacuum cleaner. Using disposable gloves, scoop the glass onto a piece of cardboard and wipe the area with a wet paper towel. For smaller pieces of glass and powder, use duct tape to pull up the fragments and wash your hands after cleaning up the debris.
- Nursie 13y ago
  To make you feel better. I really don't think it's much of an issue.
- smackfu 13y ago
  Overly paranoid article.
  - sigkill 13y ago
    More like CYA article.
natch 13y ago
I had upwards of 20 CFL light bulbs in my house and over time I noticed that they typically were cracking at the base, thereby leaking whatever was in them, after a few years of use. After you replace 20 with 20 more, and repeat a few times, the numbers start to add up. I decided to get rid of them. And I don't eat tuna.