Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Cleaning up a smashed energy saving lightbulb?

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fanman
08-21-08, 09:31 PM
I heard there is toxic mercury in them. How should I clean it up?

http://www.bsria.co.uk/graphics/catalogue/thumb/Low%20energy%20light%20bulb.jpg

pcboss
08-21-08, 09:37 PM
See the bottom of page 2.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
Michael Thomas
08-22-08, 11:38 AM
Home inspection clients are increasingly asking this question, and the fullest study and most comprehensive set of cleanup instructions I've been able to find was done by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and published in February 2008

The entire document is in the public domain, the link has changed at least once, so I've mirrored a copy on our server here: Maine FCL Study, 2008 (http://paragoninspects.com/pdf/envirnomental/cfl/maine_cfl_full.pdf), the recommendations are in appendix E.

(Note before download - this is a 1.5 Mb .pdf)

mudslapper
08-22-08, 04:02 PM
this is just a personal opinion, but it's not a big deal. There is more mercury in the fish you eat than in that lightbulb. The mercury probably wouldn't even fit on the tip of a pin. My parents and grandparents used to play with mercury. Besides, the amount of mercury is so small how woud you know where it is when it explodes? It could be anywhere in your house.