IMHO, the dangerous item in a fluorescent bulb, is the MERCURY. You do not want to inhale or touch that. The phosphorus powder also cannot be a good thing to sniff, but I am not certain of the severity of inhaling it. Getting a cut from the glass has resulted in a nasty infection a few times also.
BTW, here in NJ, we have to recycle fluorescent tubes, in any quantity over 30 bulbs. It's not strictly enforced, but it's "on the books". Puting them in the trash is not a good thing.
John
