Replies

1. 
   Dave_Wright_ | Mar 17, 2002 02:47pm | #1

   *
   Mark,

   A quick search turns up these Q&A items that may help out and be of interest:

   Q: Are there any risks, other than a case of implosion, with regards to exposure to normal fluorescent lighting?

   A: While the phosphors in fluorescent lamps are not considered to be toxic, they do contain a tiny amount of mercury. This mercury is an essential part of the operation of the lamp (it is what creates the initial light during the electric discharge). While most fluorescent lamps are simply discarded into landfill, some facilities (including the University of Virginia) dispose of them more carefully. The University of Virginia breaks the lamps to collect the phosphors and then distills the mercury out of the phosphors. The phosphors are then entirely non-hazardous and the mercury is recycled.

   Q: What is the correct way to dispose of fluorescent lamps? Do they really have mercury inside them? Is the powder that covers the inside of them dangerous? Is there a simple way to get rid of a burned fluorescent lamp without pollution?

   A: While there is mercury in a fluorescent lamp, the amount of mercury is relatively small. There are only about 0.5 milligrams of mercury in each kilogram of lamp, or 0.5 parts per million. In fact, because fluorescent lamps use so much less energy than incandescent lamps, they actually reduce the amount of mercury introduced into our environment. That's because fossil fuels contain mercury and burning fossil fuels to obtain energy releases substantial amounts of mercury into the environment. If you replace your incandescent lamps with fluorescent lamps, the power company will burn less fuel and release less mercury. That's one reason to switch to fluorescent lamps, even if you must simply throw those lamps away when they burn out. Nonetheless, there are programs to recycle the mercury in fluorescent lamps. Last year, the University of Virginia recycled 31 miles of fluorescent lamps. They distilled the mercury out of the white phosphor powder on the inner walls of the tubes. Once the mercury has been removed from that powder, the powder is not hazardous. The university also recycled the glass. One last note: the mercury is an essential component of the fluorescent lamp--mercury atoms inside the tube are what create ultraviolet light that is then converted to visible light by the white phosphor powder that covers the inside of the tube.

   My take on this is that you don't have to worry, but may feel better if you clean the shop floor more thoroughly. Maybe a HEPA filtered vac or wet mopping.

   Regards, Dave

1. 
   Seth_Frankel_ | Mar 17, 2002 05:00pm | #2

   *As an aside, you can purchase sleaves that prevent accidental breakage for about a buck a piece. They're well worth the money. I have purchased them from Grainger, but I'm sure others sell them.Best,Seth

1. 
   Scott_Braun | Mar 17, 2002 05:12pm | #3

   *I realize this may be impossible in your basement shop, but maybe a reasonable facsimile can be worked out. In my shop, we keep the dumpster (a two yard metal bin on wheels) by the back door inside the machine room. we only bring it out when it's full, and ready to be dumped. when we dispose of flourescents, we break them IN THE DUMPSTER, usually with a long stick or something, so you don't breathe that little cloud of dust that pops out, and there's no cleanup. Okay, occasionally, on a slow day, we make a game of it, and throw stuff...we're a silly bunch.SB

1. 
   Mark_Jakubauskas | Mar 18, 2002 03:56am | #4

   *Dave,Thanks for the information... lots of peace of mind there. All I was getting off Web searches was "danger! mercury! toxic! etc.." I did vacuum, but think I'll wet-mop too just to be sure. Went to the hardware store today and bought a bunch of the plastic sleeves, too, so this doesn't happen again!

1. 
   Dave_Wright_ | Mar 18, 2002 04:55am | #5

   *I wish someone had put plastic sleeves on the 8' tubes that rained glass and phosphor on us during volleyball matches.

2. 
   John_O'Connell | Mar 18, 2002 10:15pm | #6

   *I've heard that if you get cut, the phosphorus will keep it from healing for a very long time.