Cleaning Up a broken CFL – two EPA versions – one before and one after the 2010 elections

EPA version June 2010 – before the election

Before Cleanup:

• Air Out 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.

Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces:

• Carefully scoop up glass pieces 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 and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Cleanup Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials:

• If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away.
• Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

EPA version January 25, 2011 – after the election of November 2010

1.  Before clean up:

• Have people and pets leave the room.
• Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
• Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
• Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.

2.  During clean up:

• Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
• Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

3.  After clean up:

• Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly.  Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or clean up materials indoors.
• If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

If these bulbs are so “safe”, why do you have to go to this extent to clean them up?

Why did the “instructions” change after the election?

An open letter to owners or operators of Medical Facilities and other Places of Public Accommodation

Perhaps you are already aware of the serious medical issues which are presented by the spurious emissions from CFL bulbs.  If not, please do read this.

Dr. Owen Perlman, a prominent Physiatrist affiliated with Associates in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, at the Reichert Health Building of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, which is located between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, MI, is sure that there are more people impacted by CFLs than are in wheelchairs.

Dr. Perlman’s areas of specialization include Brain injury rehabilitation, Spinal cord injury rehabilitation, Stroke, neurological and multiple trauma rehabilitation

In addition to being Board Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, his many achievements, positions, and awards include being the Medical Director of several Rehabilitation Centers, Board Member of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, Brain Injury Association of Michigan-Clinical Professional Service Award (2003), Chairperson’s Award (2009), and being named as one of the Best Doctors in America

At this point, it is not known whether it is the Critical Flicker Frequency of the light, the RFI, the EMI, or some combination of the above which wreaks havoc with many thousands of people with an array of ailments ranging from Migraines, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Dizziness/Vestibular Problems, Seizures, Nausea, and Cardiac Arrhythmias, to Autism, Head Pain, Acquired Brain Injury, ADHD, Scotopsia, Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity, Depression, Difficulty Concentrating, Pain in Teeth, Pain or Pressure in the Chest, Pressure In/Behind Eyes, Ringing in the Ears, Tingling, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Spike in Blood Sugar, Diabetes (type 1 and 2), CFS/Myalgic Encephalopathy, Photosensitivity (Critical Flicker Frequency).

The Videos and Studies on this website will show you some of the effects discussed above.

Allison Vuchnich, of GlobalTV, in Toronto has won a Gemini Award for her recent documentaries on the effects of CFLs including the recent research that is being done in Switzerland.  The Swiss researchers have built an environmental test chamber which allows them to measure the deleterious emissions from CFLs.  Their preliminary conclusion is that the standards set by the U.S.A., Canada, and the E.U. do not sufficiently protect the general population from the medical damage inflicted by CFLs.  Their experiments show the Central Nervous System of people with electrical sensitivity as it is “hit” by the radiation from the CFLs.  It is hoped that a copy of that Video will soon be available at this website.  It is quite scary.

For anyone who may be unaware of the medical issues caused/exacerbated by CFLs, the question still remains “Does any place of business want the liability of the contamination caused by the breakage of a CFL?”  The June 2010 EPA “suggestions” for cleanup of a broken CFL is in the column to the right.

The liability issues of having to evacuate a building and doing the suggested cleanup of a hazardous material would effectively close a business establishment at least until the cleanup was completed as delineated in the EPA “suggestions”.  As noted, the liability could extend to new clothing for occupants of the building, or perhaps even something more serious.

CFLs can pose a major potential liability for your firm should one be broken and contaminate your facility.

Letter to the Editor: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, Adrian (MI) Daily Telegram

To the Editor,

CFLs pose many serious medical problems for large numbers of people. A prominent physiatrist in Ann Arbor says that he is certain that more people are impacted by the deleterious effects of CFLs than are in wheelchairs. They simply have yet to make the connection.

There are numerous videos, several medical studies, and a list of the ailments caused/exacerbated by CFLs at the website: www.cflimpact.com/

The EPA, which has strongly denied any issues with CFLs, has (in June 2010) issued a report on “Cleaning Up a Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb.” In that document, the EPA states that “If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.”

It also states that when one is broken “have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out” and to “shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning system.”

Based upon these statements, it would be reasonable to assume that, should this occur in a place of public accommodation (such as a restaurant) the establishment would effectively be put out of business until a proper job of cleanup is accomplished.

How many restaurants can afford that disruption?  Why do local health departments allow CFLs in restaurants?  Why would any owner of a place of public accommodation subject themselves to the potential liability exposure caused by such an event?

The Canadians are way ahead of us on this issue. Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, has been on this topic for several years. Her research shows that one CFL contaminates 190,000 litres (more than 50,000 U.S. gallons) of water beyond the level considered safe for drinking.

Swiss research indicates that the UV emissions from CFLs pose a health hazard and that government standards are inadequate to protect us. We wear sunglasses for UV protection when outdoors. Why would we have a light bulb producing harmful levels of UV in our homes?

Our EPA has failed to protect us. Let’s support elected representatives who want to restore our choice and protect our health.

Jerry Straub

Adrian

Tell the owners/operators, politely, why you are not patronizing their establishment.  Hopefully, they will accommodate people with disabilities.

MICHIGAN

Saline

Saline Community Hospital (particularly at the entrance to the lab).

Adrian

Culver’s

Governor Croswell Tea Room

Taco Bell

McDonald’s (New one on S. Main and US-223)

McDonald’s (New one on N. Main)

Garfield’s

Clinton

McDonald’s

This email was received Tuesday, October 19, 2010:

“Below is a picture of a CFL light bulb from my bathroom.  I turned it on the other day and then smelled smoke after a few minutes.  Four inch flames were spewing out of the side of the ballast like a blow torch!

I immediately turned off the lights.  But I’m sure it would have caused a fire if I was not right there.  Imagine if the kids had left the lights on as usual when they were not in the room.

I took the bulb to the Fire Department today to report the incident.

The Fireman wasn’t at all surprised and said that it was not an uncommon occurrence.  Apparently, sometimes when the bulb burns out there is a chance that the ballast can start a fire.  He told me that the Fire Marshall had issued reports about the dangers of these bulbs.

Upon doing some Internet research, it seems that bulbs made by “(Brand name omitted)” in China seem to have the lion’s share of problems.  Lots of fires have been blamed on misuse of CFL bulbs, like using them in recessed lighting, pot lights, dimmers or in track lighting.

Mine was not in any of those. It was a normal light socket.

I bought these at (major retailer).  I will be removing all the (brand name omitted) bulbs from my house.  I have not decided yet if we are going back to incandescent bulbs at this point.

Just thought you should know.”

Looking at the EPA Suggestions for Cleanup, in the “Recent Articles” column, to the right, you will find the “suggestion” that states

“If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away.  Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.”