What are the health effects of mercury exposure?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and other fluorescent light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. For example, an average CFL contains 5 milligrams or about 1/100th of the amount of mercury found in a mercury fever thermometer. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use; exposure is possible only when a bulb has been broken. Learn about how to clean up a broken bulb by visiting EPA’s Mercury Web site. You can view information about the health effects associated with mercury exposure on EPA’s Mercury Web site. If you are concerned about your exposure to mercury, you should consult your physician.
