Mercury in CFL

[Shakaza]

So, someone in my family accidentally broke a CFL while it was on, which obviously would've released most or all of the mercury contained inside as a vapor. So, we vacuumed it up, which is generally not a good thing to do anyway, but it also blew air directly at my mom and sister. They did this because they didn't know the proper ways to clean it up, and didn't bother to look it up. So, I'm a bit angry with them about that, because I don't want to experience the harmful effects of mercury poisoning. In my case, I don't want my learning ability to be impaired, since I'm one of the smartest people in my class, but what's done is done, but what I want to know is if the amount released in the air will be enough to harm us, or if it will have dispersed enough to be negligible. 

[WinNut]

Open the windows. Now.

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

So, someone in my family accidentally broke a CFL while it was on, which obviously would've released most or all of the mercury contained inside as a vapor. So, we vacuumed it up, which is generally not a good thing to do anyway, but it also blew air directly at my mom and sister. They did this because they didn't know the proper ways to clean it up, and didn't bother to look it up. So, I'm a bit angry with them about that, because I don't want to experience the harmful effects of mercury poisoning. In my case, I don't want my learning ability to be impaired, since I'm one of the smartest people in my class, but what's done is done, but what I want to know is if the amount released in the air will be enough to harm us, or if it will have dispersed enough to be negligible. 

I've broken a few fluorescent tubes in my life and I've still got a 4.0 studying engineering. I don't think a single exposure is going to produce any profound effects.

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

Open the windows. Now.

what he said. take precations and you shouldn't have too much to worry about.

[Shakaza]

Open the windows. Now.

I'm not sure when it occurred, because I was asleep at the time, but I'm pretty sure at least one was open. We have more open now.

[Goodman2265]

Cleaning Up

• DO NOT VACUUM (it may contaminate your machine and spread the mercury to the rest of your house)
  
• Use paper or cardboard to scrape up the glass pieces and debris and put into the Ziploc baggie
  
• Go over the area with duct tape to get any dust or other particulates, put into the Ziploc
  
• Use the baby wipes to do a final pass over the area, put them into the Ziploc
  
• Take the sealed Ziploc out of the house (so that the vapors don’t stay inside) until you can arrange for it to be properly recycled
  
• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly
  
• Continue to air out the room and leave your central air off for 2-3 hours
  

[WinNut]

Also, the amount of mercury in CFLs shouldn't really hurt you. While it's not the wisest thing in the world to breathe it in, it won't kill you either.

[givingtnt]

with as little mercury that there is in these lights, you should be ok, although, make sure everybody breaths fresh air from outside, open all the windows in the room and close the doors that leads to other parts of the house. if you have a fan, put it in the window to create air flow.

also, take a shower.

make every body involved take a shower

[Shakaza]

I've broken a few fluorescent tubes in my life and I've still got a 4.0 studying engineering. I don't think a single exposure is going to produce any profound effects.

Were they on at the time? One being on would cause more of the contained mercury to be a vapor, which would cause more to be dispersed in the air. I wouldn't be worried that much if it was off when it was broken.

[Aphexx]

I think eating a couple cans of tuna is going to dose you with more mercury than a broken bulb

[Flight1sim]

typically these bulbs contain so little that it can't do permanent damage. I mean, when they're designed they would've had to acknowledge the fact that people do drop bulbs from time to time

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

Were they on at the time? One being on would cause more of the contained mercury to be a vapor, which would cause more to be dispersed in the air. I wouldn't be worried that much if it was off when it was broken.

I think it was shortly after turning off, but it might have been on. I can't recall.

[Aphexx]

... I mean there are entire wrestling matches based on breaking bulbs and rolling around in them

 

https://youtu.be/N8pPHtmGIzk?t=206

[Shakaza]

I think it was shortly after turning off, but it might have been on. I can't recall.

Think that lapse in memory is caused by the mercury? Nahh, I'm just kidding.

 

I should be fine.

[Delusional Phil]

So, someone in my family accidentally broke a CFL while it was on, which obviously would've released most or all of the mercury contained inside as a vapor. So, we vacuumed it up, which is generally not a good thing to do anyway, but it also blew air directly at my mom and sister. They did this because they didn't know the proper ways to clean it up, and didn't bother to look it up. So, I'm a bit angry with them about that, because I don't want to experience the harmful effects of mercury poisoning. In my case, I don't want my learning ability to be impaired, since I'm one of the smartest people in my class, but what's done is done, but what I want to know is if the amount released in the air will be enough to harm us, or if it will have dispersed enough to be negligible. 

Clean your self now ,ZipLock your clothes , treat it like you got radiation , make sure you clean thoroughly with what @Goodman2265 said .

 

If you were the last one to get exposed ... I think it'll be okay , as long as you make sure Mercury doesn't exist in your house ... You should probably buy a new vacuum for good measure .

 

Basically , anything that is in the vicinty of the exposure should be treated as radiation contaminate ... Call the pollution control ... They'll know what to do ... 

 

Also what is CFL ?

[GoldSrc]

Also what is CFL ?

Compact Fluorescent Lamp.

[Delusional Phil]

Compact Fluorescent Lamp.

Oh .. He'll be fine ... the amount is fairly small in CFL ...

[GoldSrc]

Oh .. He'll be fine ... the amount is fairly small in CFL ...

Yeah, I know it's pretty small, but those things still have to be disposed correctly.

[Flight1sim]

help, I broke a CFL earlier, and i'm personally fine, but i DO NOT want to sleep in  my room. Followed the proper procedure for cleaning, but i have a carpeted floor, and there are shards of glass still in it. My window has been open for 7 hours, and there's been a good wind all day to flush the air in my room. Should i be worried to sleep at night?