No. 104 - Miljøstyrelsen

5 Exposure and risk assessment
In this chapter theoretical concentrations to which consumers may be exposed
if compact fluorescent lamps or straight fluorescent lamps break in the
consumer’s private home are calculated. Then associated health risks are
assessed.
5.1 Exposure levels
As described in the health assessment of mercury released from a broken
fluorescent lamp, inhalation is the primary exposure route for mercury.
Absorption through the skin of mercury vapours can happen to a limited
extent, but since skin absorption only accounts for around 2-3 % compared
with inhalation a calculation is only made of health risks from inhalation of
mercury vapours from broken compact fluorescent lamps and straight
fluorescent lamps.
Both the short-term exposure, e.g. during clean-up from an accident with
breakage of a fluorescent lamp in the private home, and a long-term exposure
in case, for instance, of insufficient cleaning exposing continuously consumers
to mercury vapours, are interesting in a risk assessment context.
Therefore, relevant exposure levels for both short-term and long-term
exposure are dealt with.
5.1.1 Exposure scenarios
The two exposure scenarios under assessment are two situations where
exposure to mercury is highest. In the first situation a person picks up the
broken compact fluorescent lamp and is exposed shortly to a high
concentration of mercury.
In the second situation the broken compact fluorescent lamp is not completely
cleaned up and thereby people are exposed to mercury for a longer period of
time. For this scenario it is not possible to calculate the concentration of
mercury in the home, since it depends on many factors such as ventilation,
level of cleaning etc. In principle evaporation of mercury may take place as
long as there are mercury residues in the room. Tests have been conducted
where concentrations of mercury have been measured above the US RfC
value (long-term concentration without harmful effects) of 0.0003 mg/m 3
several weeks after breakage of a compact fluorescent lamp.
Following exposure scenarios are assessed:
� Scenario 1: A fluorescent lamp breaks and cleaning is done within 30
minutes. Exposure is calculated for an adult person. Concentrations
are calculated with and without ventilation of the room.
� Scenario 2: Situation where cleaning after breakage of a fluorescent
lamp is insufficient. Values measured in tests of breakages of
fluorescent lamps are compared with various limit values.
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