The Dark Side of Green Light
Just when we were feeling good about changing all those incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents (CFLs), we learn that they're filled with two toxic chemicals--mercury and phosphor. But that's not all. If you break one, you're in for a massive, nightmarish cleanup. And what should we do about "dead" bulbs? How do we dispose of them? Here's the EPA on what to do when the bulb breaks. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room -Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out. -Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more. -Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces -Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. -Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments...