From the EPA --
Release date: 09/27/2010
Contact Information: Jalil Isa, isa.jalil@epa.gov, 202-564-3226, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged from dental offices each year. The mercury waste results when old mercury fillings are replaced with new ones. The mercury in dental fillings is flushed into chair-side drains and enters the wastewater systems, making its way into the environment through discharges to rivers and lakes, incineration or land application of sewage sludge. Mercury released through amalgam discharges can be easily managed and prevented.
EPA expects to propose a rule next year and finalize it in 2012. Dental offices will be able to use existing technology to meet the proposed requirements. Amalgam separators can separate out 95 percent of the mercury normally discharged to the local waste treatment plant. The separator captures the mercury, which is then recycled and reused.
Until the rule is final, EPA encourages dental offices to voluntarily install amalgam separators. Twelve states and several municipalities already require the installation of amalgam separators in dental offices.
Approximately 50 percent of mercury entering local waste treatment plants comes from dental amalgam waste. Once deposited, certain microorganisms can change elemental mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish.
Fish and shellfish are the main sources of methylmercury exposure to humans. Methylmercury can damage children’s developing brains and nervous systems even before they are born.
More information on mercury from dental offices: water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/dental/index.cfm. More information on mercury and the environment: www.epa.gov/mercury/index.html.
Hi...I think you all don´t know what your country (USA) is making to the rest of the world: improvement violence, extreme poverty,climate change...i think you should have a low reflexion. Power doesn´t mean barbaric politics outside. Please take this like a humble petition from cristian to cristian.
ReplyDeleteHave a good time, you can.
Yes of course Gilbert, the U.S.A. is just terrible! This is why tons of people want to come here illegally and why every country that has a problem or natural disaster calls us terrible monsters for help.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course we are barbaric... it's is outrageuosly barbaric that citizens of the U.S. donate more money to other countries in their time of need than any other country out there. Not to mention what our open check book government also gives them.
We should be a more kind nation like, China, Iran, North Korea, or the Taliban controlled areas of Pakistan/Afghanistan.
From Christian to Christian -- please and in a very humble way -- Bite us!
I didn't even know Spain was still a country?
nice!
ReplyDeleteCharleston, SC, dentists are responsible enough to voluntarily support the mass usage of amalgam separator to avoid harming the people's health and to avoid further hazards to the environment.
ReplyDelete