Characteristics and Treatment of the Dental Waste Water Stream

Cailas, Michael D.; Drummond, James L.; Tung-Yi, Wu; Ovsey, Victor G.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/2274 Copy

Description

Title

Characteristics and Treatment of the Dental Waste Water Stream

Author(s)

• Cailas, Michael D.
• Drummond, James L.
• Tung-Yi, Wu
• Ovsey, Victor G.

Contributor(s)

Hafermann, Julie

Issue Date

2002

Keyword(s)

• Dental materials -- Environmental aspects
• Dentistry -- Pollution prevention
• Dentistry -- Source reduction (Waste management)
• Mercury -- Environmental aspects
• Medical wastes -- Environmental aspects
• Water -- Pollution
• Dental offices -- Waste disposal
• Medical wastes -- Illinois
• Hazardous wastes -- Illinois

Abstract

Dental amalgam consists of approximately equal parts mixture of metallic mercury and an alloy powder consisting of silver, tin, copper and zinc. Amalgam has been used extensively as a tooth filling material, accounting for 75% of posterior restorations. The waste material from dental offices generated during restorative dental procedures contains amalgam. The uncontrolled discharge of this waste into the sewer system from a large number of dental units (i.e. dental clinics), will increase the mercury load to treatment facilities and could eventually contribute higher potential mercury exposure as well. The main objective of this project was to characterize the properties of the dental waste (DW) stream.

Publisher

Champaign, IL : Illinois Waste Management and Research Center

Series/Report Name or Number

RR Series (Waste Management and Research Center) ; 097

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/2274

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