Remember that old saying: "No good deed goes unpunished?"

I got a harsh taste of that earlier this week, thanks to a compact flourescent light bulb. Like most everyone with a green streak, I replaced my regular lightbulbs with eco-friendly CFLs long ago.  

But I'm considering switching back to the regular bulbs after a CFL broke in my hand.

It happened when the lamp on my nightstand started to flicker. As I reached over to the bulb to make sure that it was properly seated, the bulb shattered against my palm. Glass shards, a mysterious white powder and — worst of all — mercury fell all over the nightstand, as well as on my pillows and bed.

The first thing I did was make sure that the glass didn't puncture my skin (fortunately, it didn't draw any blood.) The second thing I did was pick up the larger pieces of glass, grab a broom and start sweeping up the glass fragments and powder. As I was collecting them in a dustpan, I remembered that CFLs contain mercury.

A quick search on the web revealed that hovering over a broken CFL bulb is exactly what NOT to do. Broken CFLs release mercury gas into the air. The bulbs contain roughly five miligrams (about the size of a period at the end of a sentence) of mercury, which is a neurotoxin that shouldn't be ingested or inhaled.

Unfortunately, I cleaned up, rather than doing what the experts recommend: Open the windows and evacuate the area for at least 15 minutes. 

That said, however, it is hard to find reliable information about dealing with broken CFLs. The advice I found ranged from dismissing the risks of broken CFLs entirely to spending upwards of $5,000 to clean up a hazmat scene.

Perhaps the most reliable information comes from the EPA, which suggests that people ventilate the area and stay clear of it for at least 15 minutes. Afterwards, clean the glass and powder without using a vacuum or broom to prevent spreading mercury through the air. More details are available at their website. It's also important to dispose of CFLs correctly.

Meanwhile, the risks of mercury exposure seem to be higher for small children and pregnant women. I'm certainly not an expert, but it seems reasonable to use a regular lightbulb in kids' rooms or if you're expecting.

Personaly, I'll keep using CFLs for all overhead lighting, but I'm going back to regular bulbs for table lamps. It may not be green, but I'd rather limit my exposure to mercury.