Mercury risk if compact fluorescent bulb breaks

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain small amounts of toxic mercury that can vaporize when the bulbs break, creating a potential health risk for infants, young children and pregnant women.

If a bulb does break, follow these cleanup procedures, suggested by the Mercury Policy Project and the Maine Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management:

Keep people and pets away. Open windows and leave the area for 15 minutes before beginning the cleanup.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner, even on a carpet. This will spread the mercury vapor and dust and potentially contaminate the vacuum.

Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass jar with a metal screw-top lid and seal like a canning jar.

Next, scoop up the smaller pieces and dust using two stiff pieces of paper such as index cards or playing cards. Pick up fine particles with duct tape, packing tape or masking tape, then use a wet wipe or a damp paper towel.

Put all waste into the glass container, including all material used in the cleanup. Remove the container from your home and call your municipality or local solid-waste district for disposal instructions.

Continue ventilating the room for several hours.

Wash your hands and face.

As a precaution, consider discarding throw rugs or the area of carpet where the break occurred, particularly if the rug is in an area frequented by infants, small children or pregnant women. Otherwise, open windows the next several times you vacuum, to provide good ventilation.