What happens if water hits a fluorescent light bulb?
December 5th, 2009 at 7:59No, I don’t want to try it myself to find out. There was once an incident where a dish-washing machine was malfunctioning and it started to spray out water. Someone in the room said: "Don’t let the water hit the fluorescent lights!" Well, what would have happened if it did?
Tags: dish washing, Fluorescent Bulb, Fluorescent Light Bulb, fluorescent lights, quot, washing machine
Posted by admin,
in Home & Garden
December 5th, 2009 at 7:59 am
The thermal shock to a fluorescent light bulb would be very slight due to its cool running nature unlike a incandescent bulb which is very hot and may easily break when touched by water. The danger when a fluorescent does shatter (usually by physical force) is the trace amounts of mercury used in the bulb.
The following is copied from http://www.ehow.com/about_5392738_dangers-breaking-fluorescent-light-bulb.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
It concerns compact fluorescent bulbs, but the danger facts are the same with tube type bulbs.
Significance
Incandescent lighting is slowly being phased out, so alternative light bulbs are becoming more popular. The Department of Energy recommends using CFL bulbs in all portable lamp fixtures as a way to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Since fluorescent lighting contains trace amounts of mercury, opponents want to restrict their usage on the basis that mercury exposure is a serious health threat.
Effects
Elemental mercury is a toxic substance that can cause an adverse effect on a person’s health. Exposure can occur when products containing mercury are broken and the substance is exposed to the air. Severe damage can occur to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys if it is absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Other side effects include tremors, emotional disturbances, insomnia, headaches and neuromuscular changes.
Misconceptions
The dangers of fluorescent light bulbs are often exaggerated and misrepresented. CFL’s contain about 4 mg of elemental mercury sealed within glass tubing. This is considered a trace amount that poses a minimal health risk if exposed. Mercury is not released into the air when a CFL is in use. However, when a bulb is broken, some precautions should be taken to properly clean up the area.
Solution
If a CFL breaks in your home, you do not need a professional cleaning crew to make sure the mercury is contained. The Environmental Protection Agency has compiled a list to help you do this yourself (See Reference 1). The first thing you should do is have people and pets leave the room, taking care not to allow anyone to step in the area of the breakage.Turn off your central forced-air system and open windows. Allow the room to air out for at least fifteen minutes. When cleaning up the broken glass, use a sealed plastic bag or glass jar to store the pieces. Use duct tape to pick up any remaining pieces and powder, wiping up the residue with a moistened paper towel.
Warning
When cleaning up a broken CFL bulb, it is important you do not use a broom or vacuum on hard surfaces. If there are broken pieces on the carpet, you may vacuum after picking up as much debris as you can with duct tape. When you are done, put the vacuum contents in a sealed plastic bag. Bedding or clothing exposed to mercury fragments should be thrown away and not washed, as this may cause sewage pollution. Deposit the clean-up materials in an outdoor trash container. You should check with your state or local government to make sure they allow trash disposal of products containing mercury, as some states require you to go to a recycling center.
Hope this helps
December 5th, 2009 at 7:59 am
if on could break
December 5th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Any light fixture not just florescent. You just happened to have florescent.
December 5th, 2009 at 7:59 am
it gets wet