A Hazmat Crew To Change

A Light Bulb?

To the Editor:

From the February 25 Boston Globe regarding fluorescent bulbs:

… Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that accumulates in the body and can harm the nervous system of a fetus or young child if ingested in enough quantity. Most people are exposed to the metal by eating fish.

The Maine study, which shattered 65 bulbs to test air quality and cleanup methods made these recommendations: If a bulb breaks, get children and pets out of the room. Ventilate the room. Never use a vacuum — even on a rug — to clean up a compact fluorescent light. Instead, while wearing rubber gloves, use stiff paper such as index cards and tape to pick up pieces, then wipe the area with a wet wipe or damp paper towel. If there are young children or pregnant woman in the house, consider cutting out the piece of carpet where the bulb broke. Use a glass jar with a screw top to contain the shards and cleanup debris.

“We found some very high levels [of mercury], even after we tried a number of cleanup techniques,” said Mark Hyland, Maine director of the Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management. During several of the experiments, for example, he said mercury in the air was more than 100 times levels considered safe even after a floor was cleaned. He said such levels would quickly decline if the room were ventilated and people followed their tips...

So will we see the hazmat crew at one of our schools in order to replace a light bulb, not to mention the cleanup costs added to our budget? Though I am sure the “global-warming” brigade will find a way to justify it.

Frank McDermott

8 Pumpkin Lane, Newtown                                     February 26, 2008