Energy Saving Light Bulbs

[Bazile]

Is there anything dangerous /harmful ( apart from cutting yourself ) in the make up / contents of Energy Saving Lightbulbs , if they break ?

[Buenchico]

Unless you're planning on smashing them by the box-load, there's probably nothing to worry about:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7172662.stm

[Bazile]

The bloke from British Gas who came to look, at a light fitting accidentaly broke the bulb , with bits falling all over the dining room table cloth .
I asked him if there was anything dangerouis in the bulb , to which he replied no .
After leaving , he returned and asked if i wanted him to dispose of the broken item .
I thought I remember reading somewhere that the broken bulb was dangerous - and with him returning , got me wondering .

[albaqwerty]

I think when they first came out or made an appearance, the advice was not to dispose of in your general household waste nor the recycling bin.
Haven't found out why yet, might go and research it, but it would be google research though.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

A small amount of mercury,,dont consume too much or else you will become as mad as a hatter!

[Fibonacci]

Not suitable for a light lunch.

[Answerprancer]

Did they scatter the lead singer of Queen's ashes in a lightbulb factory then?!

[Big Jenny]

Damn useless things, anyway. Take half an hour to "warm up" and even then give a very poor light.

[Old_Geezer]

It's dangerous enough in quantity for the authorities not to want them to go into the general waste, but as folk here advise, the odd one should not be an issue.

[bongoboy]

i know they contain mercury, i remember reading something last year regarding these bulbs that when left on for long periods can emit cancer causing chemicals. i personally won't use them.

just googled and found this link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1378757/Energy-saving-bulbs-release-cancer-causing-chemicals-say-scientists.html