Canada-wide standards: a pollution prevention program for dental amalgam waste.
Dentistry and society have long recognized the benefits of using silver-based amalgams to restore and maintain the dental health of patients. However, recent studies by health and environment experts have shown that mercury is of great concern when it enters the biosphere as a contaminant. A rational approach to pollution prevention is mandatory. This article explains the relationship between mercury, particularly dental amalgam waste, and the environment and describes a new pollution prevention initiative intended to ensure that the dental community becomes part of the solution to this serious environmental health problem.
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National Mercury Programs, National Office of Pollution Prevention, Environment Canada, Place Vincent Massey, 20th Floor, 351 St. Joseph Blvd., Hull, QC K1A 0H3. LukeTrip@ec.gc.ca
D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D018057:Dental Waste; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000592:standards*; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury