Are CFL bulbs dangerous?

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Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are supposed to be good for your electricity bill. The bulbs use 50 percent less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs. Vicki Cobb says one of the bulbs, installed in a lamp, has lasted four years.

But are they bad for your health?

CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury (4 milligrams on average) sealed within its winding glass tube. This is because the CFL uses mercury vapor is an essential element to creating light within the bulb. No mercury is released when the bulb is intact (not broken) or in use.

The problem comes when a bulb breaks. Mercury escapes as vapor that can be inhaled and as a fine powder that can settle into carpet and other textiles. At least one case of mercury poisoning has been linked to fluorescents: A 1987 article in Pediatrics describes a 23-month-old who suffered weight loss and severe rashes after a carton of eight-foot (2.4-meter) tubular bulbs broke in a play area.

When a CFL burns out, it's recommended that you take the bulb to a CFL recycling center (the Earth911.com site is a good resource for finding recycling sites near you). When the bulb is recycled, it will go through a mercury absorbing filter to negate any mercury emission into the atmosphere or environment.

If a CFL bulb breaks, make sure people and pets leave the room and air out the room for 5 to 10 minutes. After thoroughly collecting the broken glass and any visible powder, it's recommended that you place the broken CFL pieces into a sealable container and then transfer it to an outdoor trash container.