Why has dental amalgam become a wastewater issue?
Dental amalgam contains mercury, and mercury is identified as one of 12 “persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic” chemicals targeted by local, state, and federal environmental regulators. With the enactment of various environmental and occupational safety regulations, the use of mercury by U.S. industries began a steep decrease in the mid-1980s. As industries eliminate mercury from some products, such as paints and pesticides, or reduce its use in batteries, lamps, and electrical switches, environmental regulators have turned their attention to mercury’s use in healthcare. Thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, medicines, and dental amalgam are among the healthcare products that regulators have identified as possible sources of mercury that can be released into the environment. It should be noted that dentistry’s use of amalgam has decreased significantly in recent years with decreased caries and with the popularity and improved properties of tooth-colored restorative materials. Regulatory
