Environmental News
Charlie Brown's Statement at the World Mercury Treaty Negotiations - INC1
President of the World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry, delivered an opening statement seeking an international ban on mercury dental fillings before the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in June, 2010
The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Makes Progress at the Mercury Treaty Negotiations
The 2nd mercury treaty negotiations, held in Chiba Japan, was a success. Our umbrella coalition, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, "the voice of dental patients worldwide", effectively countered the pro-mercury World Dental Federation (FDI), a lobby group funded by amalgam manufacturers.
Update from Dave Simone on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC2) on mercury
Dave Simone of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology shares his experieinces at the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC2) which was held in Chiba, Japan from 24 to 28 January, 2011.
U.S. government calls for the phase-out of dental mercury amalgams!
In an extraordinary development that will change the global debate about amalgam, the United States government has announced that it supports a “phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out by all Parties, of mercury amalgam.”
ADA lobbies State Department to dump EPA from UNEP's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in favor of pro-mercury FDA.
Mercury Policy Project recently wrote a letter urging the U.S. Government not to succumb to the American Dental Association's recommendations to have FDA assume a leading role in the INC process, given that EPA, not FDA has the expertise to address the global threat of mercury amalgam releases.
Mike Darcy of MARS Bio-Med Discusses the 2014 EPA Amalgam Separator Regulation
Mike Darcy of MARS Bio-Med Discusses the upcoming EPA Amalgam Separator Regulation that will roll out in 2014.
Update from The International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP)
The International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 24-29, 2011. Amanda Just, Freya Koss, and Anita Tibau attended as affiliates of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and recorded some notable information about the mercury used in dentistry as related to the conference:
Bush EPA cuts midnight deal with ADA: Undermining mercury pollution prevention
A hold over deal from the Bush administration is allowing tons of dental mercury pollution into the environment that could be prevented. The agreement between the EPA, the American Dental Association and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies stands in stark contrast to pollution reduction initiatives now underway for all other mercury sources.
IAOMT presents science to State Department’s Mercury NGO Stakeholder Meetings
August 18, 2011, the State Department held "Mercury NGO Stakeholder Meetings" in Washington, D.C. The meetings were held in preparation for the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a globally legally-binding instrument on mercury (INC3).
Metro Sewage Authorities Contradict ADA on Waste Mercury Amalgam in Wastewater
In 2002, the ADA released an assessment entitled "Evaluation of Mercury in Dental Facility Wastewater." The report argued that dental offices were not a significant source of mercury contamination. The Association of Municipal Sewage Authorities released a critique of the ADA report, taking serious issue with most of its findings.
World Health Organization Report Suggests "Phase Down" of Dental Mercury Amalgam Globally
Oct. 11, 2011 The World Health Organization today released its 2009 meeting report on the "Future Use of Materials for Dental Restorations" in preparation for the third of five Intergovernmental Committee deliberations. The WHO report suggests, over time, the global "phase down" of amalgam.
Substance Flow Analysis of Dental Mercury Releases Into The Environment
Alex Cain of the EPA published a study in the Journal of Industrial Ecology that evaluated the substance flow analysis of dental mercury releases Into the environment. His comprehensive analysis revealed dentists releaase up to 24 tons of mercury into the environment, a level much more significant than previously thought, which warrants being addressed.
Residual mercury content and leaching of mercury from used amalgam capsules
This study investigated residual mercury (Hg) determinations and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) analysis of used amalgam capsules. All capsules tested retained Hg. TCLP analysis of the triturated capsules showed Sybraloye and Contoure leached Hg at greater than the 0.2 mg/l Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) limit.
Mercury vapor levels in exhaust air from dental vacuum systems may exceed occupational safety limits
Two different methods used to measure mercury (Hg) vapor levels in the air exhausted from dental vacuum systems revealed that Hg vapor release to the atmosphere from dental vacuums can be substantial and exceed human exposure limits.
EPA will mandate dentists install amalgam separators to reduce environmental dental mercury releases
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will eventually mandate that dentists nationwide install amalgam separators, which captures 99.5% of waste amalgam containing mercury before it hits the wastewater stream.
Amidst financial crisis, Michigan dentists get $270,000 to install amalgam separators.
Dentists have been polluting the environment with dental mercury amalgam waste for over 100 years. All the while oblivious to the fact they were contaminating the environment with mercury or denying they were the most significant source or mercury pollution.
Bio-Cremation a greener way of cremating
Matthews Cremation, now offers a combustion-free, potentially greener way of cremating bodily remains called "Bio-Cremation", which emits one tenth the carbon dioxide of traditional cremation according to the company.
Crematory outcry has Minnesota cities weighing risks
Crematory outcry has Minnesota cities weighing risks. As cremation rate rises, critics and backers debate potential for such toxic emissions as mercury.
Crematory Emissions Data
Crematory Emissions Data. Outline of Referenced Sources: This is an outline of key points in several documents found to have useful information on the matter of toxins in crematory emissions.
An assessment of mercury amalgam waste in dental wastewater in the U.S.
This study performed an assessment of the discharge from dental facilities of mercury in the form of amalgam to surface waters in the United States. Two pathways were examined, effluent from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and air emissions from sewage sludge incinerators. Mercury in the form of amalgam from dental facilities to POTWs was estimated to be 6.5 tons
Updates from the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally-binding Instrument on Mercury (INC4)
The 4th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury (INC4) will meet in mid 2012 to continue to negotiate the text of a treaty to regulate mercury use at a global scale.
Zero Mercury Working Group views on mercury use in dental amalgam
The Zero Mercury Working Group believes that the mercury treaty should contain effective "phase down" reduction measures to decrease dental amalgam use, leading to a global amalgam phase-out by a fixed date. Country experiences demonstrate that phasing out amalgam over time is achievable. The Nordic countries have all phased out most amalgam uses.
IAOMT sends experts to the UNEP's INC5 a globally binding treaty on mercury
The IAOMT is attending the fifth and final International Negotiating Committee (INC5) meeting by the United Nations Environmental Programme on mercury. IAOMT represents the consensus that amalgam is a risk to the environment, dental workers and the general public, and whose use should be discontinued.
U.N. Calls For Global Phase Down Of Mercury Fillings
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, a scientific dental organization, participated in the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) meeting, where nations formalized a legally-binding treaty to reduce global use of dental amalgam, a restorative tooth filling material containing 50% mercury.
IAOMT Info-graphic - Dental Mercury’s Toxic Journey Back to the Environment
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology has released an info-graphic, Dental Mercury’s Toxic Journey Back to the Environment, that outlines the many ways in which 340 tons of dental mercury is released into the global environment yearly.
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Heavy metals are known to induce functional alterations in kidney mitochondria, this damage plays a central role in the mercury-induced acute renal failure. In fact, mercury causes rapid and dramatic changes in the membrane's ionic permeability in such a way that a supra load of mitochondrial Ca(2+) occurs. As a consequence, the phenomenon of permeability transition takes place.
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