Okay, last night my husband and I were cleaning up our RV. The bulbs in the kitchen are fluorescent and one was burnt out. I was sitting in a chair next to the trash can and my husband took the old bulb out and put it in the trash - it wouldn't fit so he smashed it and this white powder goes everywhere - mainly all over me. I even got a mouthful of the powder before I could get up.
I thought NOTHING about it and helped him pick up the shards of glass that were on the floor, then went and changed shirts because mine was covered in white stuff.
About an hour later I got this freight train of a headache out of nowhere - within minutes my muscles started twitching in my face, legs and stomach and then I started have heart palpitations. I got this deep achey feeling in my kidneys that spread around to my stomach. A few minutes later I started having difficulty breathing.
It was SO bizarre. I have been doing really well and I haven't had heart palpitations in forever. I decided I was going to lay down but wanted to check a few things on the computer first. I went to one of my regular websites and they had this article about high levels of mercury in fluorescent bulbs. This is the first time I have EVER heard about mercury in fluorescent bulbs!!
Why don't they have warning labels on these?? Anyhow, I woke up this morning just twitching away and I still have a massive headache. The reaction I had can not be psychosomatic - it was a good 2 hours after the symptoms started that I found this article and finding this article was a TOTAL fluke - I wasn't looking for info on mercury in fluorescent bulbs because I had no idea mercury was in them to begin with.
Now that I have researched I have the comforting knowledge that breaking ONE fluorescent bulb in a room can cause mercury levels to rise by up to 1,000 percent and you can NEVER remove it from carpet.
I think it's way to big of a coincidence that these symptoms started shortly after breaking this bulb. Symptoms that I haven't experienced in AGES.
I have know idea how to safely detox mercury from the body, but I guess I need to learn and get on it. I'm so disgusted that this isn't common knowledge!!!!!
Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :
THIS IS THE ARTICLE:
Stock Up on Incandescent Light Bulbs: In Fact, Buy a Lifetime Supply of Them J. Speer-Williams Infowars.com March 11, 2010 Our government's''Green Revolution'' is another covert attack on our collective health and environment, largely using their mythical global warming hoax to do so. A Compact Fluorescent Light bulb.
The new Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs are a perfect example of this kind of subterfuge. While claiming these new CFL bulbs will reduce carbon emissions,''our'' Congress passed legislation stating these new light bulbs must completely replace our everyday incandescent light bulbs by 2014, without telling us of the serious dangers to health and environment, that these mandated bulbs pose. Most of these new CFLs will make people sick, by emitting radio frequency radiation that contributes to dirty electricity, that can cause migraines, dizziness, nausea, confusion, fatigue, skin irritations, and eye strain. But far more importantly, CFLs are loaded with deadly mercury, one of the most toxic elements on Earth. In fact, all CFL bulbs contain - at least - four to five milligrams of mercury, about 200 times the amount of mercury in a flu vaccine shot. There is enough mercury in each CFL bulb to contaminate 6,000 gallons of clean water. To break one of these CFL bulbs is to risk ruining the health of one's entire family, or office staff, with enough released atmospheric mercury to best require the expensive, professional services of a Haz/Mat Removal Team. Believe not the''clean-up'' methods for broken CFL bulbs offered by those in the mainstream media, which tell us to open a window, then leave the area of the broken bulb for 15 minutes; then return with duct tape to pick-up the broken glass. Then what is one to do? Put the broken glass and duct tape into a glass jar and screw on a tight lid. What is one to do with the glass jar? Take it to a special toxic dump. Where are such dumps? Check your local listings.
All of the above, of course, is sheer nonsense. Want proof? Ask your dentist about the Haz/Mat teams that come into their offices to remove their old collection of dental amalgams, which dentists keep in little lead lined boxes. All Americans will be well advised to practice a''mercury escape plan'' in the case of an accidental breakage of one of these CFL bulbs: Grab your cell phone, babies, dogs, cats, and parakeets (if they aren't already dead), and get well away from your house. Call a Haz/Mat company to completely clean your house before re-entering it. Such are the serious dangers of mercury. And our environment? This is where mercury laden CFL bulbs do their most serious damage to everyone of us. This is the same environment that our hordes of''Greenies'' are so concerned about dying from global warming. But unknown to our greenie friends, already there are hundreds of millions of disposed CFL bulbs that have contaminated personal garbage cans, fleets of garbage trucks (spreading their toxicity near and far), and garbage disposal sites, that are doing irreparable damage to our ground water, except when such garbage is burnt; then, mercury is released into the very air we all breathe. You see there are precious few toxic dump sites in the world equipped to handle mercury, the most dangerous element in the world, after radio-active materials. With over 100 million American households, and tens of millions of other lighted facilities, all over our country, and with each of them disposing of even just one CFL bulb a month ... can anyone imagine how much mercury will poison our disposal dumps, our ground water, our air, our lungs, and our entire bodies. If one did not know better, mercury is the perfect chemical/weapon for genocidal madmen: Mercury is in dental amalgams, vaccines, corn syrup light bulbs, and who knows what else. Are our lawmakers simply without a shred of common horse sense, or are they driven by a sinister power, intent on not only destroying our environment, but our very lives. In any case, something inhuman drove our CFL horror, and is driving the''Green Revolution,'' and its off-shoots of global warming, and the entire climate change circus of death. Prison Planet.tv Members Can Watch Fall Of The Republic Right Now Online - Don't Miss Out! Get Your Subscription Today!
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
Just curious, did you seek any medical attention? That would be my first thought--and take the remains of the bulb and any of the white powder along with you so they know what they're dealing with.
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Oh my gosh! You may need to see a doctor. Mercury is not something you want to be exposed to.
I actually knew that CFL bulbs contain mercury. I read about it somewhere years ago. I don't know if I saw it on the packaging or online somewhere or what. But I was so surprised when I first found out about that.
You are never supposed to break them or throw them in the trash. They need to be recycled. Not all community recycling will take them though. There are places that recycle them if your community recycling won't. Home Depot is one that I know of that will take your used CFL bulbs. You would have to look online for other places in your area.
Here is some info from the EPA on what to do if one breaks. You should look this over and make sure you do everything you can to limit further exposure. I think it even says you need to throw out those clothes you were wearing.
I am so sorry that this happened! As if you don't have enough to deal with already. Exposure to mercury is the last thing you need.
Take Care!! Pam
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Oh and if you are looking for an alternative to the CFL bulbs many are now making LED bulbs. Those are starting to come up in the industry and are supposed to be just as good as CFL bulbs but the LED bulbs DON'T have mercury in them. So it looks like those could be the future of green lighting because they have the same benefits without the hazardous material. As I said these are already being made so you could look into buying some of those instead.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
The herb cilantro is one thing which will bind to mercury and help you excrete it. I would find an ACAM doc -- you may need chelation with either DMSA or DMPS -- I would want a doc experienced in chelation.
When hubby had mercury toxicity from dental fillings his primary symptoms were a Parkinsonian tremor and nausea, vomiting and dry heaves.
Bea Seibert
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
I would think to take large doses of chlorella throughout the day...
I'm not very experienced in chelation but the chlorella & cilantro may help in the mean time.
Sorry for your suffering!
Also - anything that binds toxins like charcoal, psylium, clay, zeolites, etc.
Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :
Thanks guys - and thanks Bea for the advice and the symptoms your husband experienced. When reading the list of mercury poisoning symptoms it's hard to distinguish them from Lyme symptoms.
I haven't seen a doctor but I do plan on finding a naturopath that is experienced in chelation and starting that. There is no doubt from researching today that I have now had an overexposure to mercury.
I'm just really angry that this isn't common knowledge - I've worked very hard to get to a semi-healthy state and take pride in the knowledge that I've gained over the past few years on getting healthy and STAYING healthy. I feel like this just snuck up and bit me in the butt and it ****es me off!
My husband thinks I'm waaay overreacting of course and "it's not bothering him a bit". Nothing bothers him, everything bothers me. Go figure.
Posted by Dr.Dave (Member # 24210) on :
Lauren,
Sorry to hear about your mercury exposure...yes it can have very similiar symptoms as lyme and if you got true exposure it is very difficult to remove.
Because I had rescently purchased a dentist office that used mercury fillings for twenty plus years and had carpeting that we used.Plus while renovating the office i removed pipes for the chair drainage that were full of white powder. That is what we first thought was wrong with me...I got very sick a year later.
It is a very complicated metal to remove from the body. I researched extensively and am in the process of chelation myself. It is not a good mix with the lyme bacteria that sequesters it and helps hold it in the body, then when the bacteria is killed it is released into the body and re-distributed into the tissues. From what I read you need a combination of things to pull it out correctly.
I wouldn't wait around but would get on it before the lyme can collect it. There are some things you can do on your own...but you may need professional help if the exposure was signficant.
Dr.Dave
Posted by Dr.Dave (Member # 24210) on :
Lauren,
P.S. your PM is full..I can help get you started in the right direction. An ND may not be your best option.
Dave
Posted by jenny76 (Member # 18205) on :
Is there a blood test to be done for mercury toxicity?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
When is someone going to sue the companies making this &%$#?
Posted by twingirl (Member # 13172) on :
There is a blood test but the mercury moves from the blood to tissues so it's not always accurate.
My doctor uses hair analysis and urine analysis. I had all my heavy metals chelated 3 years ago and it made a difference in how I felt.
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
Lauren,
So sorry to hear this has happened! I hope you can get to someone soon to get this cleared out of you.
I agree with Lymetoo...you might consider consulting with an attorney! If there are no warnings on the bulbs about the mercury, I would think you might have a case. It would just be hard to prove since the symptoms are so similar to Lyme.
tickbattler
Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :
The white powder isn't the mercury.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
OMG,I'm sorry, but I wouldn't step foot back in that RV until it had been cleaned for chemical exposure. I wouldn't even trust my husband to clean it properly.
Lauren, warning. Vaccum cleaning bag will have to be disposed of properly to. I've seen warning that you need a company that does toxic clean up to ensure it's done right.
The white powder stuff that you seen is not the poison. The mercury that could of land anywhere including absorded in your lungs.
I personally would make contact with Gigi. Emailing her, she will be glad to advice how you can detox yourself.
Take care. I know you are freaking out. Hubby can't understand.
Pam
[ 03-15-2010, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: map1131 ]
Posted by Dr.Dave (Member # 24210) on :
Lauren, So sorry that happened to you... Dr Andrew Cutler is the expert on mercury. One very important Supplement is ALA which according to cutler needs to be taken through out the day and to start with 25mg and work your way up to 100mg. So you would try to take it every 4 hours one first thing in am and so on and one before bed...he recommends waking at night and taking one every 4 hours. I can't do that. You do this for a couple of weeks and the go up to 50mg then 75mg then 100mg....you do this in combination with DMSA prescription or if you don't do this with an MD then just the ALA.
You do this until the symptoms Clear and then 2-3 months more according to Cutler.
The my researched showed the only really good way to test is with a urine challenge test. You are given a strong chelator and then the urine is checked to see if you released a lot from the tissues. You would need a specialist to help you with this. Or you assume your exposure was significant and do it on your own or with the help of others, ND etc.From what I read hair analysis and blood tests are not very accurate.
I hope you were not exposed too much.
I hope this is helpful...if you continue to have bad symtoms I would consider a Dr. in Enviromental toxin specialty.
P.S. Your Mailbox is full
Dave
This is not medical advice this is based on my own experience and that of others.