Amalgam use and waste management by Pakistani dentists: an environmental perspective.
To assess amalgam use and waste management protocols practised by Pakistani dentists, a cross-sectional study was made of 239 dentists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, recruited by convenience and cluster sampling. Amalgam was the most frequently used restorative material, with the choice dictated by patients' financial constraints. While 90.4% of dentists perceived amalgam as a health risk, only 46.4% considered it an environmental hazard. The majority disposed of amalgam waste in the trash, down the sink or as hospital waste. Very few (5.9%) had an amalgam separator installed in their dental office. Amalgam waste management protocols and mercury recycling should be introduced in Pakistan.
Mumtaz
R
R
Department of Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Riphah International University, Islomobod, Pakistan. rmumtaz@post.harvard.edu
Ali Khan
A
A
Noor
N
N
Humayun
S
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018057:Dental Waste / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003815:Dentists / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000458:organization & administration; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010154:Pakistan; D018579:Patient Selection; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D003723:Dental Amalgam