Why is your mouth the only safe place to store mercury containing dental amalgam (silver fillings)?

The American Dental Association (ADA) believes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new federal regulation represents a fair and reasonable approach to the management of dental amalgam waste. The rule, released Dec. 15, requires dental practices nationwide to install devices, called separators, to capture dental amalgam waste preventing its release to sewer systems. The rule includes reasonable exemptions, a phase-in period and considerations for dental practices that have already installed the devices.

The ADA shares the EPA’s goal of ensuring that dental amalgam waste is captured so that it may be recycled. The ADA originally commented on the draft regulation in February 2015. ADA representatives also met with the EPA and shared views and data as the process evolved. We commend the EPA for its consideration of the ADA’s comments.

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