July 22, 2009 – More and more consumers are using CFLs, which are considered more energy efficient than traditional filament (incandescent) bulbs. CFLs, however, contain mercury. The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) has studied the health risks of a compact fluorescent light bulb when it breaks and its toxic metal escapes into the air.
In a scientific opinion published recently, the INSPQ specifies that a broken CFL bulb releases approximately 1 mg of mercury for a few days. This is sometimes sufficient to raise the concentration of this toxic metal above the limit, set at 0.2 µg / m3 for children, who are more sensitive than adults to mercury.
|
“Green” bulbs |
The risk of poisoning remains very low, however, since the limit was set for an exposure that would last a lifetime, notes the INSPQ. Chronic exposure to mercury damages the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. Note that the mercury contained in a bulb in good condition does not pose a health risk.
The INSPQ still recommends taking some precautions when a bulb breaks.
1. Leave and ventilate the room for 15 minutes
The first thing to do is open a window and leave the room long enough for the concentration of mercury in the air to decrease.
2. Pick up debris, without a vacuum cleaner or broom
A vacuum cleaner or a broom can spread the mercury in the air. To clean, large pieces should be picked up by hand – ideally with gloves – and placed in an airtight container. Then, with gummed tape, we collect the small pieces and the powder. Clean up with a damp paper towel and throw away anything that was used for cleaning up in the debris container.
3. Afterwards, you can vacuum a few times with the window open.
4. Place the debris container outside.
5. Ventilate the room several hours after cleaning.
Marie-Hélène Croisetière – PasseportSanté.net
1. To consult the scientific opinion of the INSPQ on compact fluorescent light bulbs: www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf.
