CFLs and Preventing Murcury Exposure

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

The US is phasing out regular light bulbs and the US EPA encourages Americans to use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for residential lighting to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury. You can prevent potential mercury exposure to you and your environment by:

• storing and handling CFLs responsibly;


• following our tips when cleaning up broken CFLs; and


• recycling or disposing of CFLs properly.

For all of you that would like to see the detailed clean up recommendations if you break a CFL in your home, please follow this link.