Joker Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Is the mercury really a big deal that is in the bulbs? My dh broke one in the ceiling fan with his hand! We had to go to ER for stitches and am now home - I've picked up all big pieces and used tape for tiny pieces. I am about to vacuum the area - are we good after that? I have my dd's in their room but I still feel nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pip Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 It is my understanding that the room is fine after 15 minutes. After that the vapors have dissipated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cillakat Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 No it's not a big deal *at all*. I broke two - one in the coat closet and one in the kitchen. A friend of mine who's dh is an emergency project manager with the EPA came over with his little machine to test. He was there within the hour. Even in the non-ventilated closet: nothing. Katherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 No it's not a big deal *at all*. I broke two - one in the coat closet and one in the kitchen. A friend of mine who's dh is an emergency project manager with the EPA came over with his little machine to test. He was there within the hour. Even in the non-ventilated closet: nothing. Katherine Thanks for this info! What a relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 This site is pretty strenuous in its recommendations for what to do. I did some further googling and found that the mercury amount in a fluorescent bulb is pretty low. You would have to break something like a blood pressure monitor to get significant mercury exposure in the home. http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 People were exposed to far more mercury with the thermometers of yore that our mums might have put in our bums when we were ill. My brother used to break them on purpose to play around with the jelly- mercury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the info - I'm not so stressed about it now. The only other thing I found was that we should toss his clothes in the garbage because he was standing directly under the bulb when he broke it (he was playing the Wii and is so embarrassed) so I'm sure there was debris in his clothes. I found info online that said to not wash them. Edited September 6, 2009 by Horton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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