How Can Dentists Prevent Mercury Pollution from Dental Amalgam?
Most dental offices currently use some type of basic filtration system to reduce the amount of mercury solids passing into the sewer system. The installation of amalgam separators, which generally have a removal efficiency of 95%, can further reduce discharges to wastewater. In October 2007, the American Dental Association (ADA) adopted its new Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste (PDF) (8 pp, 118K, about PDF) , which recommends two very important and effective “best practices”: the use of dental amalgam separators, and the recycling of captured amalgam solid waste. Some states have mandatory dental amalgam program requirements, including installation of amalgam separators. Specifics on state requirements can be found at EPA’s August 2008 Health Services Industry Detailed Study: Dental Amalgam (PDF) (76 pp, 1 MB, about PDF) Additionally, the National Conference of State Legislatures lists state legislature internet links, including links to information on state laws requiring de
