Recently, environmental groups highlighted the presence of mercury vapors at the port area of Tondo, Manila, and afterwards also stressed upon the need for appropriate disposal of the toxic substance.

A hand-held ambient air analyzer was used to obtain mercury vapor data from the sites marked for the collapsing of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that had mercury in it. Approximately, 14 used CFLs were analyzed at two separate breaking sites and observed with the average reading of 117.20 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3) for the tested lamps and individual product with mercury vapor of 502.40 mcg/m3.

On the other hand, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has okayed an exposure limit of 100 mcg/m3 for the mercury vapors.

The Chemical Safety Project Coordinator, Thony Dizon, said: "We need to emphasize that it is not only the lamp waste recyclers who bear the brunt of toxic pollution. The mercury vapor escapes as the glass tubing is broken and travels around, exposing the workers, their children and the environment to this toxic metal".

It was also suggested that the mercury containing CFLs should be disposed of separately as it has lethal effects on human life. In addition to several other diseases, high exposure to mercury can cause disorders in central nervous system, brain damage, memory and sight loss, the advice read.