Clean-Up Guide for CFLs and Fluorescent Bulbs

As a result of a growing green movement and new government regulations—including an Act of Congress to cease the manufacture of incandescent lamps by 2013—the use of more energy efficient lights, such as CFLs, continues to increase. Like all fluorescent lights, CFLs contain hazardous mercury vapor, which is emitted when these fragile bulbs break and causes significant health and safety issues, as well as environmental concerns.

What should you do if a CFL breaks in your home? A Maine Compact Fluorescent Lamp Breakage Study found that mercury concentration in a room can exceed permissible exposure levels, even from the breakage of a single CFL. For a clean-up guide, click here: http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/cflreport/appendixe.pdf

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Can Mercury Waste Be Treated On-site?

Last week we looked at where mercury is found in our daily lives. This week, we will address what is being done in regards to pollution control of mercury emissions. Possible changes in government regulations could allow on-site treatment methods, which could make it possible to clean-up areas that are otherwise considered too cost- and time-prohibitive to treat. For instance, a planned cleanup of a 40-mile section of the Hudson River in New York illustrates the need for on-site treatment. The area is heavily contaminated with PCBs, but the off-site method for the PCB disposal will lead to liberation of huge quantities of mercury.

It is an incongruent challenge because in trying to remove one form of pollution, they will generate another—which is thought to be the lesser of two evils. Theoretically, the 40-mile stretch would generate many billions of tons of waste. If sent to a typical plant, the quantity of waste would take the next 1,000 years to process. Not only would the time requirements be impractical, but the transportation costs would be huge—making it a cost-prohibitive and impractical solution.

Instead, the government may one day allow on-site treatment options, and companies will be gearing up in the coming years to provide services, technology and engineering to make it possible.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Where is Mercury Found in Our Daily Lives?

As we are all aware of by now, mercury vapor is found in fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps. However, mercury compounds are also used in many other ways. Calomel (mercurous chloride, Hg2Cl2) is a standard in electrochemical measurements and in medicine as a purgative. Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate, HgCl2) is an insecticide, a rat poison, and a disinfectant. Mercuric oxide is used in skin ointments. Mercuric sulfate is a catalyst in organic chemistry. Vermilion, a red pigment, is mercuric sulfide; another crystalline form of the sulfide (also used as a pigment) is black. Mercury fulminate, Hg(CNO)2, is a detonator. Mercury forms many organic compounds. Mercurochrome (in 2% aqueous solution) is used in medicine as a topical antiseptic. Whatever the usage, any products that can emit dangerous levels of mercury should be stored and transported in a packaging configuration proven to contain mercury vapor. Currently, only one package design, which includes a vapor resistant and zip seal bag, has proven effective in containing mercury vapor.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Understanding Mercury Waste Regulations

Mercury waste regulations are important to ensure a healthy and safe environment. Local and state environmental regulations and EPA enforcement of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), regulate the generation, treatment, storage, handling, clean-up, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes, including products which contain mercury. Mercury-containing lamps, batteries, and medical and electrical equipment and devices are regulated as Universal Wastes. Find out more at these United States Environmental Protection Agency Sites:

Federal Mercury Regulations

State Mercury Legislation and Regulations

State Universal Waste Regulations

Federal Universal Waste Regulations

State Mercury Medical & Dental Waste Programs

1997 Mercury Report to Congress

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Are Packaging Regulations for Fluorescent Lamps too Lenient?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of the organizations challenged with the task of simultaneously encouraging the use of energy-efficient fluorescent lamps, while also protecting the environment and people from harmful mercury vapor. The EPA permits common carrier shipment to recycling facilities, and the federal Universal Waste Rule requires packaging to be compatible with the contents of lamps, structurally sound and adequate to prevent breakage—but this rule does not specifically address mercury vapor release.

In 2005, a provision was added that requires packaging for mercury-containing products to be "reasonably designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment by volatilization or any other means." However, fluorescent lamps were excluded from this rule.

This may change. More recent federal regulations applicable to other mercury wastes (like switches, thermostats and thermometers) require management in packaging designed to prevent the loss of mercury vapor. Stay tuned for more information abut specific upcoming laws.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC