Mercury (Hg), also known as “quicksilver,” is a liquid at room temperature but easily evaporates into a gas. Fluorescent tubes and lightbulbs contain varying amounts of mercury vapor and liquid mercury. When a tube or bulb breaks or is crushed, easily-inhaled toxic vapor is released into the air. Such vapor requires proper PPE and training to clean up.
How Workers are Exposed to Mercury
Workers can be exposed to mercury from breathing mercury vapor or from skin contact with mercury. Workers are primarily exposed via the respiratory tract to liquid mercury that has evaporated or the mercury vapors from inside the lightbulb. Mercury inside a light bulb may look like white powder, but liquid mercury looks like a ball of silver.
Health Effects and Symptoms
The central nervous system and the kidneys are especially sensitive to mercury. Signs of mercury poisoning include effects on mood/demeanor, impaired memory and coordination, and skin irritation/allergic reactions. Signs of exposure to higher levels of mercury include coughing, chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore gums, eye irritation, severe tremors and changes in behavior or vision.
Cleanup Action Plan
Workplaces where fluorescent bulbs are deliberately crushed or broken should have a cleanup plan in place. Such a plan should provide workers with the necessary tools and PPE for cleanup and the necessary training about mercury exposure and its prevention.
PPE for Mercury Cleanup
Only trained cleanup workers wearing the proper PPE should clean up mercury bulb breakage. The level of PPE required depends on the size of the spill. PPE for mercury cleanup can include chemical-resistant gloves, splash-resistant coveralls or gowns, and eye protection. A face shield and respiratory protection with mercury filtering cartridges should be used for large spills. Disposable shoe covers or plastic bags should be worn on shoes to prevent tracking the mercury outside the spill area to other areas. Cleanup supplies include a mercury spill kit with an eye dropper, cardboard, plastic bags, mercury absorption power, mercury sponges, and waste bags for disposal of contaminated items. Additionally, it is useful to have warning tape to put around the area of the break.
3 Reasons to Switch to LEDs
Fluorescent bulbs once were prevalent for lighting commercial and residential spaces. However, they are quickly being replaced by the safer, more efficient, and longer lasting LEDs. There are several issues that make fluorescent bulbs problematic, and why LEDs have become more popular.
First, they contain mercury – in liquid and vapor form – and that is a health hazard if the bulbs break. A typical fluorescent tube contains about 3-5 milligrams of mercury, which poses health risks if broken. LEDs do not contain mercury, and so they have a lesser environmental impact.
Secondly, the fluorescent bulbs do not emit as bright or quality of light as LED lights. Due to the brighter lighting quality, LEDs provide an energy reduction of at least 50%, making them twice as efficient.
Finally, LED bulbs last much longer than fluorescent bulbs. On average, the lifespan for LED tubes is 5-6 times longer than that of fluorescent tubes. Even if the initial cost of an LED bulb is greater, the bulb will last longer, so LEDs are more cost effective and require less maintenance.
BE CAREFUL…AROUND MERCURY!
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