New Rules for Broken CFLs
Cleanup Guidance Updated by EPA
As energy-savvy consumers know, equipping five of your most frequently used lights with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLS) can save a family $70 a year. But what should you do when a CFL breaks?
CFLs are made of glass tubing containing about 4 milligrams of mercury. Although this isn’t much—classic thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury—consumers should still take precautions if a CFL breaks, since mercury vapors may pose health risks. In December the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the guidelines for cleaning a broken CFL.
The revised guidelines break the process into three steps: what to do before cleanup, during cleanup, and after cleanup. More in-depth guidelines are available at www.epa.gov/cflcleanup.
The amount of time EPA recommends waiting before cleaning a broken bulb has been cut from 15 minutes to 5-10 minutes. The results from a 2008 study conducted by Maine on mercury exposure from broken bulbs showed mercury release peaks within the first 5 minutes of the bulb breaking. Five to 10 minutes is sufficient time to clear the room, ventilate, and to gather the materials needed to clean up the broken bulb.
EPA also removed recommendations on how to handle clothing, bedding, or other soft materials exposed to a broken CFL.
The updated guidelines feature a brochure on proper handling of CFLs, cleanup procedures, and recycling tips. The brochure, available in both English and Spanish, may be downloaded at www.epa.gov/cflcleanup. To learn more about CFLs, visit www.epa.gov/cfl.
Sources: ENERGY STAR, EPA