Suddenly a 9.0 earthquake hits off the coast of the western sea board.  From Washington to Northern California things looked just like Japan.  Suddenly millions and millions of bulbs break in homes that remained, in buildings that remained, and of course where all the damage was.  And then a Tsunami comes in to finish the job.  Nuclear problems, but now, toxic air do to mercury, toxic mercury everywhere, and a New-age disaster, not prepared for by our government that interfered with business which sent Edison light bulb production to China, kills more folks than the earthquake and tsunami would combined!  Warehouses filled with these light bulbs are destroyed with 100's of millions of destroyed bulbs and mercury is everywhere.  There is no where for the folks to run and toxic mercury as well as all that we have witnessed goes into the ground water and the air through mercury vapor.  It contaminates the Golden State Crops, California's largest industry, and now the largest state population can't get food.  There are shortages across the nation.  Or imagine if these bulbs were in every home and building in Japan!  Horrific, but preventable.  Or even a smaller disaster would not be prepared for. 

Or lets say that, lord forbid, Florida or Louisiana was hit with another catastrophic hurricane like Katrina and remember how destitute things were?

Lets look at the great nation of Canada.  Here is one real life experience and the results.   Charmain Miles of Toronto Canada had a frightening experience with a CFL bulb.  She advised she smelled smoke on the second floor of her home, only to discover it was emanating from a new energy-efficient bulb.  "I was horrified," she advised her local TV station newsperson.  "I went through every place upstairs and took out every bulb."  The bulb had been placed in a track-lighting fixture.  Thought the bulb contained no warning (In the US the warning is in very small print!) about such fixtures, it turns out CFL's are not for use in track, recessed or dimmer fixtures.  And while the Consumers Council of Canada advises not to purchase any package of CFL bulbs that contain no instructions the entire country is on a timetable to eliminate entirely the only alternative – the incandescent bulb.  And there are hundreds of similar reports coming in from all over the world.

Ok but the pundits for these disasters waiting to happen say it easy to deal with.  So please read the following instructions for the clean up of one bulb.  But imagine in your minds eye your not home and your children accidently break one or more of these bulbs!

You have to do the following before your clean up of one bulb.

Have people and pets leave the room, and avoid the breakage area on the way out.  Open a window or door to the outdoors (What do you do if there are no windows or doors to the outside!) and leave the room for 5-10 minutes.  Shut off the central forced-air heating/air condition system, if you have one. Collect materials you will need to clean up the one broken bulb such as stiff paper or cardboard, sticky tape (e.g., duct tape-remember everyone go out and buy duct tape when you buy your bulb!), damp paper towels or disposable we wipes (for hard surfaces) and a glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar-do you still can your own foods?) or sealable plastic bag(s).  Your a Physician and Surgeon, a Judge, a Lawyer, a Pilot, Flight Attendant, Plumber, House wife, School Teacher etc. and the time you just spent costs more then the energy saved.  Unless it just happened and your late for an appointment!  And if the accident happens and you must rush off for an emergency, well it's just tough luck on the vapor!

But get this.  You have different instructions for the clean up depending on the location.  So lets examine this nightmare.

Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces for your clean up of one bulb!

Very carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag but get this.  Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping (Think of the vapor from millions of broken bulbs in a disaster!), remove the plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.  Don't forget your sticky tape.  Use the duct tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments (I hope you have a magnifying glass because you don't want mercury in your foot should you step on it later!!!!!  Of course by accident!!) and powder.  Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag.  Next wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes.  Place the towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.  Oh and don't forget vacuuming of hard surfaces during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken as it is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor!  If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following additional facts in mind.  Keep a window or door to the outdoors open if there is one.  If not, good luck say the advocates for this disaster waiting to happen.  Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available, and remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag (Which will not contain the vapors!).  Oh your not done.  Immediately place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until someone who is poor goes through your trash and becomes contaminated or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly!  Next spend all day trying to get through to your local or state government about disposal requirements in your area.  Some states and communities require florescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center or face a fine!!!!!  Of course wash your hands with soap and water and dispose the jars or plastic bags containing bulb debris and cleanup materials.  Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken if you can.  If you can't, tough luck and leave the Heating and AC system shut off, as practical, for several hours.

Having Fun?  Well the following are the clean up steps for one bulbrelative to Carpeting or Rugs!

Of course carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid.  If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag but remember, a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping into your nostrils so remove the plastic bag(s) immediately from the home after cleanup.  Use your sticky tape to again pick up any remaining small glass fragments you can see, and if you missed some, oh boy, and pick up any powder.  Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag.  And remember vacuuming of carpeting or rugs during cleanup could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor, so it is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken.  Folks what if someone makes a mistake in the clean-up process.  For one bulb, let alone millions of bulbs!  They will tell you the problem is limited so don't accidently drop more then one bulb.  And in a disaster...  Also keep in mind keep a window or door to the outdoors open if there is one, but if not, oh boy, and vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose if you have one and remove the vacuum bag and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag.  Then promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container etc. as referenced above.  Again check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your area and remember some states and communities require florescent bulbs whether their broken or not to be taken to a local recycling center.  And of course wash your hands with soap and water and continue to air out the room as referenced above for several hours.

But your not done as if you have nothing to do in life but be prepaid for one itty bitty light bulb breakage.  The next several times you vacuum the rug or carpet, you must remember to shut off the H&AC system, close the doors to other rooms, and open a window or door to the outside before vacuuming if there is outside access.  If not, well, your on your own!  Change the vacuum bag after each use in this area and after vacuuming is completed, keep the H&AC system shut off if you have one and the window or door to the outside open if you have them, for several hours! 

For tips in Spanish hit the following link Tips in Spanish!

Now if you don't believe this examiner go to US Environmental Tips and/or More US E T or check out the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks.  But please note that this is the first article to expose the disaster waiting to happen if an act of nature devastates your community.  Sadly you heard it first @ The Little Guy Fights Back For You column of the .  The horrific things you will face will be multiplied by the lack of ethical and scientific prophylactic measures that your government, no matter where you are in our world, failed to prepare for.  And remember, all of this could have been avoided if your governments had only a little patience, as within the next 5-10 years, we will have mercury free CFL's.