This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

safety of handling broken tube lamp

Is it unsafe to touch or breathing the exposed air gas that emerges when a halogen, fluorescent, or other type of bulb cracks?

  • These lamps contain a near vacuum so the amount of gas released is minute and  is most unlikely to be dangerous. Argon, and nitrogen are found in the air all the time and the minute extra amounts from a broken lamp are of no consequence. Halogen lamps contain small amounts of halogen compounds, these are somewhat toxic, but no concern in the small amounts in a lamp. Much larger amounts are found in many commonly used materials.

    Fluorescent lamps contain a little mercury, this IS toxic but the small amounts in a single lamp are negligible. Large numbers of used lamps should be properly disposed of, but the odd accidental breakage of small numbers should be of very little concern.

    The fluorescent powder is these lamps can be moderately toxic, but again negligible in small amounts.

    Broken glass can result in cuts, but is not otherwise dangerous.

    In summary, try to avoid breaking fluorescent lamps, and if one is broken avoid needless contact with the debris. Sweep it up with a long handled brush wrap it up in waste paper and dispose of.

    With other types, simply throw away the pieces, taking care to avoid cutting yourself. 

  • It's worth ventilating the area if you do break a fluorescent tube.  But the amount of mercury is only a few milligrams.  The biggest problem is going to be finding and safely picking up the broken glass.

  • some very old fluorescent tubes both used more mercury, and used beryllium oxide as a ceramic  insulator in the end caps (and if cracked that is a dust to avoid inhaling and keep out of cuts). These have not been made for at least 40 to 50 years, probably longer, but if you are involved in removal of scrap fittings from very old buildings, it is another thing, like poly-chlorinated oils in transformers, asbestos in fuse holders, dripping nasty waxes from capacitors and so on, just to keep in mind.

    Mercury is not that bad in short exposures, unless inhaled, very little mercury is absorbed by your body  if you just swallow a small amount of liquid mercury or get it on your skin for a short time unless you also have open cuts. This is considered almost non-toxic and you'll probably have no symptoms. However, if you breathe in mercury vapour, mist or globules, it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. (old thermometers used up to a gramme or 2, lamps some milligrams.)

    Even so, once the dust has settled, unless there are obvious silvery droplets,  (and they can be absorbed with powdered sulpher) , as above you can sweep up the glass with a long brush, or use a wet mop and you will be fine.

    If you eat tuna fish, you should not worry about mercury in tubes (*)

    Mike

    (Two separate maximum levels are imposed for fish ― a level of 1.0 mg mercury/kg  (1 part per million) for the fish that are known to contain high levels of mercury (such as swordfish, southern bluefin tuna, barramundi, ling, orange roughy, rays and shark) and a level of 0.5 mg/kg for all other species of fish)