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Reports are showing that compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), when broken, have a chance of leaking mercury. In a study conducted by the Maine Mercury Policy Project, there is a risk to pregnant women and small children should they encounter a broken CFL.

To conduct this study, the organization shattered 65 bulbs and cleaned them up. During the clean up, they measured mercury levels and found that mercury levels would occasionally exceed the federal standard for chronic exposure by 100 times. There are no guidelines for immediate exposure, although mercury was sometimes detected as soon as the bulb broke.

The report, however, also noted that the energy conservation benefits far outweigh these risks. Regardless, the states of Massachusetts and Vermont are going to review their CFL and mercury policies. They are looking to have better information on how to dispose of broken CFLs properly.

Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, a nonprofit organization that works to eliminate mercury use, wanted people to realize the importance of these reports.

"The message is: People should not be afraid but informed and prepared and learn how to dispose of them properly."