Taken from the
UVB meterreaders group posted by Robert MacCargar
**********************************************************
Question asked on another site.
Every thing you wanted to know about mercury containing lamp recycling
is at your figure tips. A simple search at Ask Jeeves.com will give you
more information then one can assimilate in an afternoon. I have
recommended this search many times over the years on many groups when
someone has suggested that MV bulbs are more dangerous then fluorescent
tubes. I wish reptile web sites would reflect accurate information on
mercury bearing lamps instead of the rubbish I read.
The tubes carry many times the amount of mercury (about 1-15 milligrams
depending on the lamp) then the metal halide or mercury vapor bulbs
(about .04 milligrams per arc tube). Just the name "mercury vapor" is
misleading because there is no "vapor" in the arc tubes unless the arc
is burning. Otherwise, it's a liquid. The same is so in the fluorescent
tubes. Fluorescent tubes are more hazardous then the bulbs when they
break because the liquid mercury in the tube sticks to the phosphorus
powder and floats through the air and is inhaled and deposited every
where.
The mercury in the MV bulbs is incased in the Quartz arc tube. These are
extremely hard and the only way I have been able to break one is to hit
it with a hammer. There is no powder in the quartz arc tube to help
disperse the mercury so it is simply at the spot where in was broken.
As far as recycling either the fluorescent tube or MV bulbs, this would
be regulated by county or state rules. A very long and somewhat scary
EPA notice at
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste...pgs/fedreg.pdf
Most all states and counties allow for normal consumer disposal of a
certain amount of fluorescent tubes and or mercury containing bulbs at a
time in the normal waste pick-up. California is rather strict about the
number of mercury based lamps one can dump at a time. I believe its 5 a
day on any mixture of tubes or bulbs.
Make no mistake about it. Mercury is toxic and should be considered so.
But the amount of mercury going to land fills because of reptile lamps
(tube or bulbs) is rather insignificant compared to consumer and
industrial use of fluorescent and MV bulbs not to mention a normal
household thermostat (about 1 gram of mercury, 1 gram to a 1,000
milligrams). The bulbs that go to incinerators is more of a concern then
even land fills because the incinerators actually do create "mercury
vapor" that is then dispersed over very large areas.
There are generally many mercury recycling plants in a given area and a
search on the addresses would be simple. They do not charge for consumer
disposal. If someone wanted to be very environmentally friendly, they
could package up the failed or worn out lamps and send them to a
recycler for just the shipping cost.
Below is a simple excerpt from
www.lamprecycle.org
. Please share this information with
those that might be interested in the subject.
BM
Health Effects: No adverse effects are expected from occasional exposure
to broken lamps.
Mercury: EPA's website contains the following information:
"Breaking one fever thermometer is unlikely to threaten the health of
the consumer. Proper cleanup of spilled mercury and adequate ventilation
can minimize the risks even further."
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bnsdocs/hg/thermfaq.html
Since the average four-foot fluorescent lamp manufactured in 2001
contains 8 milligrams, or about 100 times less mercury than is contained
in a typical 700-milligram fever thermometer, and a typical compact
fluorescent lamp may contain even less mercury, lamp breakage would
appear to cause virtually no risk of harm. However, the legal
requirements for disposal may be quite different.
Phosphor: A five-year study of phosphor by the Industrial Hygiene
Foundation of the Mellon Institute found no significant adverse effects,
either by ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, or eye implant. Also,
there have been no significant adverse effects on humans by any of these
routes during the many years of its manufacture or use. The phosphor is
somewhat similar to the inert calcium phosphate-fluorides that occur in
nature. Phosphor is not phosphorous. Heavy metals were removed from
phosphor fifteen years ago or more. At the end of lamp life mercury is
attached to these phosphors.
Universal Waste Rule Requirements: Under the EPA universal waste rule, a
lamp that does not pass the TCLP test and is broken must be cleaned up
and placed in a container. The container must be closed, structurally
sound, compatible with lamps, and lacking any evidence of spillage.
This advice is applicable to any mercury-containing lamp. In some
States, Universal Waste status is lost when lamps are broken and must be
handled as a full hazardous waste. It is important to check with your
local, state, or federal office for the latest update in regulatory
status or go to
www.lamprecycle.org .
Recommended Broken Lamp Handling Practices: If lamps are broken,
ventilate area where breakage occurred. Take usual precautions for
collection of broken glass. Do not use a standard vacuum cleaner.
Place materials in closed container to avoid generating dust.
Best regards,
BobMacCargar
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