Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Dangers

If you have been exposed to all the recent talk about energy efficiency and green living, you have no doubt been encouraged to use compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs instead of the standard incandescent bulbs you have always used. In case you are wondering what type of light bulb this is, picture a light bulb with strips that twist into a cone shape. While this bulb can help save you money, last much longer than traditional bulbs, and help with overall energy consumption, it also presents a serious threat to those who use them.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are basically miniature versions of the very large fluorescent bulbs used in schools or grocery stores. Like their large predecessors, CFLs contain mercury. While the mercury is harmless when contained within the bulb, it can become a threat when these bulbs are accidentally broken or improperly disposed of.

What to Do When a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks

For starters, CFLs should only be placed in areas where breakage is unlikely such as in overhead bathroom fixtures and ceiling-mounted room lighting. But if breakage does occur, it is important to remember the following things:

• Open a window and leave the room where the breakage occurred for at least 15 minutes.
• Do not ever use bare hands to clean up the mess.
• Place all collected materials in a sealed container.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has become sick from CFL bulb usage, contact the Wausau personal injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. today at 800-242-2874 to discuss your personal injury claim