| Front page | | Next |

Survey and health assessment of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps and straight fluorescent lamps

Contents

Preface

Summary and conclusions

• Compact fluorescent lamps contain small quantities of health-hazardous mercury
• What is mercury
• Forms of mercury in compact and straight fluorescent lamps
• Why is mercury a health problem?
• Calculation of level of mercury vapours without harmful effects
• Which levels can be found after breakage of lamps in a home in the short-term perspective?
• Which levels can be found after breakage of lamps in a home in the long-term perspective?

1 Introduction

• 1.1 Purpose and contents
• 1.2 How do compact fluorescent lamps and straight fluorescent lamps work?
• 1.3 Relevant legislation - RoHS
• 1.4 Summary

2 Survey

• 2.1 Description of types of fluorescent lamps
• 2.2 Survey of quantities of mercury
• 2.3 Survey of types of mercury compounds in fluorescent lamps
• 2.4 Future developments
• 2.5 Summary

3 Release of mercury from broken lamps

• 3.1 Mercury compounds and quantities
• 3.2 Release from broken lamps
• 3.3 Impact from flooring and evaporation of mercury after accidents
• 3.4 Description of accident
• 3.5 Release of mercury to the outer environment
• 3.6 Risk of breakage
• 3.7 Discussion and summary

4 Health assessment of mercury vapours

• 4.1 Description of mercury
• 4.2 Absorption and metabolism in human body
• 4.3 Human intake of mercury
• 4.4 Measurement of mercury exposure
• 4.5 Mercury toxicity
• 4.6 Limit values
• 4.7 Summary

5 Exposure and risk assessment

• 5.1 Exposure levels
  • 5.1.1 Exposure scenarios
  • 5.1.2 Calculation method
  • 5.1.3 Calculation values
  • 5.1.4 Exposure calculations
• 5.2 Risk assessment
  • 5.2.1 Calculation method
  • 5.2.2 DNEL values
  • 5.2.3 Risk assessment scenario 1: Short-term exposure for 30 minutes
  • 5.2.4 Risk assessment scenario 2: Exposure over longer time
• 5.3 Summary and discussion

6 Discussion and conclusion

7 References

| Front page | | Next | | Top |

Version 1.0 August 2010, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency