Small amounts of mercury contained in low-energy light bulbs are enough of a concern for the UK Environment Agency to recommend more information be provided to consumers regarding the proper disposal of the bulbs once they become waste.

Says environmental scientist Dr. David Spurgeon, "It is possible that the mercury they contain could be released either into the air or from land-fill when they are released into the wider environment. That's a concern, because mercury is a well known toxic substance."

Though officials say there is minimal risk of mercury pollution overall, the bulbs could become problematic if they are broken or disposed of in a normal waste bin. Instead they offer these tips for handling the bulbs:

- Vacate a room where one of these bulbs breaks for a minimum of 15 minutes.

- Take precautions so you do not inhale the dust and never use a vacuum to clean the remains of the bulb.

- Use rubber gloves and place the broken bulb in a sealed plastic bag, then take to the local council for disposal.

- Unbroken bulbs that will be disposed of can sometimes be taken back to the retailer. In many cases, local waste disposal sites collect and dispose of old bulbs.

Don't worry yourself too much: the officials advise that it takes repeated or significant exposure - more than found in one low-energy bulb - to cause danger. However, the Environment Agency would still like to see more disposal information made available by retailers and the local government and included on packaging.

» BBC News