Is it dangerous to break a fluorescent tube?

Be careful not to break fluorescent tubes! Each tube contains a small amount of mercury, which can be dangerous if released into the open.

How much mercury is in a fluorescent tube?

A typical fluorescent bulb discarded today is likely to contain an average of approximately 20 mg mercury.

Can you get mercury poisoning from a fluorescent bulb?

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain small amounts of mercury. A small percentage of this mercury can be released into the air if the bulbs are broken. Mercury can cause poisoning in some circumstances. Even so, people are encouraged to replace their “old fashioned” incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

What to do with old fluorescent tubes?

All fluorescent lamps and tubes must be recycled, or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a universal waste handler (e.g., storage facility or broker), or an authorized recycling facility.

Are there any fluorescent lamps that contain mercury?

Products that contain mercury: fluorescent lamps – Canada.ca Fluorescent lamps contain small quantities of mercury, an essential component, but are far more energy efficient than incandescent lights. Fluorescent lamps contain small quantities of mercury, an essential component, but are far more energy efficient than incandescent lights.

How many milligrams of mercury are in a light bulb?

The amount of mercury in a fluorescent lamp ranges between 3.5 to 15 milligrams, depending on the type of fluorescent lamp, the manufacturer, and when the fluorescent lamp was manufactured.

What can you do about mercury in light bulbs?

To prevent the release of mercury, these bulbs should be taken to a recycler before they break. Recyclers recover the mercury and other components for reuse. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.

How does compact fluorescent light bulbs reduce mercury emissions?

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use about a quarter of the electricity of traditional incandescent light bulbs, reducing energy costs for consumers. By conserving electricity, CFLs also avoid some of the mercury emissions from power plants that burn coal.