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Bulb Eater® Manual
Systemic Effects
Acute (short-term) poisoning due to mercury vapors adversely affects the lungs primarily, in the form of acute
interstitial pneumonitis, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis. Chronic (long-term) exposure to lower mercury levels over
prolonged periods of time produces symptoms that can vary widely from individual to individual. These may
include weakness, fatigability, loss of appetite, loss of weight, insomnia, indigestion, diarrhea, metallic taste in
the mouth, increased salivation, soreness of mouth or throat, inflammation of gums, black line at the gums,
loosening of teeth, irritability, loss of memory, and tremors of fingers, eyelids, lips, or tongue. In general,
chronic mercury exposure produces four classical signs: gingivitis, excessive salivation, increased irritability,
and muscular tremors. Rarely are all four seen together in an individual case. More extensive exposures to
excessive mercury levels, either by daily exposures or one-time, can produce extreme irritability, excitability,
anxiety, delirium with hallucinations, melancholia, manic-depressive psychosis, and adverse effects on the
reproductive organs. Either acute or chronic exposure may produce permanent changes to affected organs
and organ systems. Excessive exposure to various forms of mercury has been shown to adversely affect the
human central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system.
Table 1 (page 22) provides a summary of the clinical importance of various forms of mercury.
Abrasion and Cut Hazards
The primary hazard resulting from handling broken lamps or crushing lamps is the potential release of airborne
glass particulates resulting in skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation with the possibility for cuts and
lacerations to the eye, skin, and respiratory tract tissue upon contact. The eyes and skin can also be cut or
lacerated by sharp glass edges or metal components contained in the crushed lamp waste.
Crushing Hazards
Perhaps the greatest potential for physical injury during the Bulb Eater
®
use other than laceration from broken
glass or metal components is physical injury from movement or mishandling of the 55-gallon drums. Thus,
forklifts or other suitable lifting devices equipped with drum grabbers and drum cradles must be used for
transporting, moving, and positioning the lamp waste collection drums when filled with crushed fluorescent
lamps. It is also extremely important that the manual be followed closely. Failure to operate the machine
properly could lead to dangerous mercury vapor exposure. While boxing intact lamps intact, be careful to
avoid breaking the lamps. When intact lamps break, unfiltered vapors are released.
Other
A review of manufacturers’ fluorescent lamp Product Safety Data Sheets (PSDS) reveal there are no known
health hazards from exposure to lamps that are intact. The PSDSs further disclose that no adverse effects
are expected from occasional exposure to broken lamps but stated, “Avoid prolonged or frequent exposure
to broken l
amps unless there is adequate ventilation.” The PSDSs indicate that the major hazard from an
occasional broken lamp is the possibility of sustaining glass cuts.
Environmental Effects
Additionally, mercury is harmful to the environment. Mercury bioaccumulates in the food chain and as
such poses many of the adverse effects described on the human body during the consumption of mercury
contaminated food (e.g., predator fish
– swordfish, tuna, etc.) Mercury in the environment is deposited and
revolatilized many times, with a residence time in the atmosphere of a few days.
Most mercury-containing fluorescent lamps must be recycled or disposed as a toxic characteristic hazardous
waste as defined in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA). This is due to the concentration of the mercury and/or other toxic metal content in the waste typically
exceeding EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) limits quantified by TCLP analytical tests.
