A study performed by Jackson State University (Jackson, MS), researchers has dispelled the myth that broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are not hazardous to human health.
Environmental Engineering Science is an authoritative interdisciplinary journal publishing state-of-the-art studies of innovative solutions to problems in air, water, and land contamination and waste disposal.
The research is performed by Li Jin and Yadong Li research scholars from the University and reported in the monthly online journal, “Environmental Engineering Science,” and published by Mary Ann Liebert.
According to the report, that contrary to the belief that CFLs release less than the quantifiable level of liquid mercury (Hg) suggested by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the USA, they release more mercury vapor into the air and that lingers in the air even for months. It adds that in a longer run the total amount of mercury vapor material released from a broken CFL will exceed the endurance degrees of humans put up in a room with poor level of ventilation and bring in undesired effects.
For performing the research, they utilized CFLs of four different wattages produced by eight dissimilar companies. They identified that the mercury material content in CFLs varied in all the brands. During the research they used the procedures developed and proposed by EPA to find out the level of mercury seepage in liquids and positioned an emission level supervising system to monitor the level of Hg Vapor release.
The researchers suggested that for the purpose of saving the people from inhaling hazardous vaporized mercury, the rooms should have sufficient levels of ventilation and the busted CFL needs to be removed quickly. They also have suggested the right type of packaging to prevent the risk of CFLs breakage and to check the release of Hg vapor outside the package even if the package suffers breakage, thus reducing the level of human vulnerability to the unsafe gas.
Source: http://www.liebertpub.com/