Coalition Launches Program to Reduce Dental Mercury Waste
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Coalition Launches Program to Reduce Dental Mercury Waste
Missoula, MT - This week a diverse coalition of health and environmental groups will launch WATER (Waste Amalgam Treatment, Education and Recycling), a program to reduce the amount of mercury released into wastewater from dental offices in Missoula County. Modeled after the American Dental Association's (ADA) best management practices for mercury amalgam disposal, the WATER program will provide education, support and incentives to participating dental practices. The program is a partnership between the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Missoula City-County Health Department, the Montana Dental Association (MDA), Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Women’s Voices for the Earth.
“The dental community feels the WATER program is important in helping all dentists become better environmental stewards as they recycle and reduce amalgam contaminants in the Missoula County Wastewater system" says Dr. Ryan Huckeby, President of the Missoula Second District Dental Society.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency estimates that nationwide, dental amalgam, also known as silver fillings, contributes more than 6 of the 20 tons of mercury released into waste water treatment plants each year. Dental amalgam is a composite of 50% liquid mercury and other metals. When amalgam is removed or placed in a patient’s mouth, a small amount is discharged to the drain. Without the appropriate capture and disposal mechanisms in place, as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), dental amalgam is released to the wastewater treatment plant. Once released, bacteria convert elemental mercury into methylmercury, the most toxic form of mercury to humans. Methylmercury builds up, or bioaccumulates, in the food chain. Humans are exposed to methylmercury primarily through the consumption of contaminated fish.
Health effects in children exposed to mercury include neurological disorders such as learning disabilities and developmental retardation. Adults may experience trembling hands and numbness or tingling in lips, tongues, fingers or toes. High levels of exposure can damage the heart, nervous system, or kidneys.
"Amalgam is not removed or recycled at the wastewater treatment plant. The only way to reduce mercury in our effluent or sludge is to reduce discharge from its source," says Sherri Kenyon, pretreatment coordinator at the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Plant. "The WATER program takes a proactive approach to reducing mercury coming into the wastewater treatment plant and in turn going into our environment,” she added.
Dental practices that participate in the WATER program will follow the ADA’s best management practices for mercury disposal, including installing an amalgam separator, a device that removes between 96-99% of mercury particles from the wastewater. Dental practices that fully comply with the WATER program will receive a decal that indicates they are practicing environmentally responsible dentistry.
"The WATER program is a collaboration in every sense of the word," says Dori Gilels, executive director of Women's Voices for the Earth. "Not only will the program help protect the quality of Montana’s aquatic resources but the use of decals will serve to inform patients about the important role of dental practices in creating a healthy environment,” she continued.
The WATER program is being launched first in Missoula County and will expand statewide next year.