Are broken compact fluorescent bulbs harmful?

[Talon242]

I just ordered a new bulb and it arrived broken. I'm wondering if they are harmful? I think I'm gonna put it in the garage for now just in case.

 

[travis simonson]

Nothing to worry about other than the sharp broken glass. Any gas inside the bulb has long since escaped. Sorry to hear you got a broken bulb

 

[Talon242]

Okay thats good to know. It's okay I emailed the sender.

 

[malkore]

if its shattered, no good reason to keep it.

 

[MikeyB]

fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. At my work we have special drums we store all are old bulbs in till some one comes to recycle them. Well here is some info on the bulbs.

http://www.worldwise.com/recfluorlig.html

 

[azn_fishy55]

I thought flourescent bulbs hold plasma which give off a brighter light?

 

[BlazerFRS]

I thought flourescent bulbs hold plasma which give off a brighter light?

Nope- Not any that I know of anyway. Most hold a combo of argon and mercury gasses. When electricity is pass through these they produce ultraviolet light, which strike phosphors on the glass of the lamp. These phosphors use the ultraviolet light to make 'white' light.

 

[BlazerFRS]

On an OT note:

Actually, you are partially right azn_fishy55; after some more research I have found that flourecent bulbs can create plasma-any flourecent fixture that uses a starter switch will generate some plasma when the bulb fires up initially.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp4.htm

Found it on how stuff works