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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Rest of the Story ...

on compact fluorescent lightbulbs - they are a mercury risk to children if they get broken. Get this highly practical and realistic means of cleaning them up if they break. (The italics are mine for emphasis.)

The Maine study, which shattered 65 bulbs to test air quality and clean-up methods made these recommendations: If a bulb breaks, get children and pets out of the room. Ventilate the room. Never use a vacuum -- even on a rug -- to clean up a compact fluorescent light. Instead, while wearing rubber gloves, use stiff paper such as index cards and tape to pick up pieces, then wipe the area with a wet wipe or damp paper towel. If there are young children or pregnant woman in the house, consider cutting out the piece of carpet where the bulb broke. Use a glass jar with a screw top to contain the shards and clean-up debris.

3 comments:

A said...

This, in fact, at the very least is a gross over-exaggeration, and at most is a complete hoax. Yes, they need to be cleaned up when broken with a specific set of steps in order to properly handle the breakage, but it appears that cutting the area of carpet out is likely an extreme over reaction. Read this from a common hoax identifying website:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

Robb Ryerse said...

:shrug: Just reading today's story from the Boston Globe.

klasieprof said...

Are you telling us there is a PREGNANT WOMAN IN YOUR HOUSE??????