This is an interesting account. My experience has been different. I’ve been around quite a few broken fluorescent tubes (the four foot kind) - back when I was working at a hardware store to pay for college, and never encountered symptoms remotely like the ones described.
I have to say here for the record - that when I was a young child (between 7-10?), I broke an old glass thermometer and ended up playing with the “really cool silver beady stuff” that came out (mercury). When my mom entered my room she was HORRIFIED! I must’ve been playing with it for quite some time, I remember rolling it around on my hands watching it bead, ball up and roll off - it was REALLY COOL to tell you the truth...
Anyway, I don’t remember ANY symptoms such as what was described here. I have also told this story to doctors over the years, and as far as anyone can tell I have no lasting damage from this experience either!
It's called hysteria. Really dangerous.... spreads like wildfire in ignorant boobs... like this guy and the one who sealed the baggie.