MassDEP Fines Dental Practices for Failing to Recycle Mercury Wastes
Most Massachusetts Dentists Recycle Mercury Amalgam, Protecting State Water Resources

The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has targeted 14 Massachusetts dental practices and facilities for failing to comply with regulations that prevent dental amalgam that contains mercury from being released into the Commonwealth's water resources.

The vast majority of dental practices are complying with three-year-old MassDEP regulations that require them to install and operate wastewater treatment systems that capture mercury dental amalgam, recycle their mercury-containing amalgam wastes, and periodically certify that they are complying with the rules.

"Some 3,000 dentists across the Commonwealth have taken important steps to prevent releases of mercury and safely recycle waste mercury," said MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt.  "Unfortunately, a small number still are not doing their part to protect public health and the environment. This initiative levels the playing field for all dentists."

MassDEP issued enforcement notices to 30 dental facilities for failing to certify that they had installed state-approved equipment for keeping mercury amalgam out of their wastewater - even after previous warnings from the agency that they were late in doing so. The agency gave these facilities 30 days to comply with the rules. As of July 28, 14 dental facilities still have not complied, and they must pay a fine of $500, in addition to the $400 in compliance fees paid by all dental facilities in the state.

The dentists or dental facilities that remain out of compliance are: Dr. Matthew Healey of Billerica; Family Dental Practice of Cambridge; Montgomery Dental Associates of Chicopee; Dr. Keith Morris of Dorchester; Dr. Jeffrey Poirier of Fitchburg; Groton Dental Wellness Spa of Groton; Groveland Family Dental Center of Groveland; Dr. Elsa Guzman of Jamaica Plain; Dr. Donald E. Jaffe of New Bedford; Dr. James E. Kearns of North Dartmouth; Family Dentist of Norwood; Dr. John Brazill of Pittsfield; Dr. Ashok K. Patel of Waltham; and Dr. Joseph Guarino of West Roxbury.

Before the start of the MassDEP dental amalgam program, about half of the mercury found in Massachusetts waste water originated in dental offices, where scraps of mercury amalgam from tooth fillings were washed down the drain or thrown away in the trash. A University of Massachusetts study of several commercially available amalgam separator technologies has confirmed that they effectively remove most mercury from dental wastewater. For instance, mercury levels in wastewater sludge treated by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority dropped by almost 50 percent after most dental offices in the state started to use amalgam separators.

If released to the environment, mercury from scrap amalgam can be converted in lakes, ponds and rivers to a very toxic form known as methyl mercury. This form is toxic to the human nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system and accumulates in certain types of fish, making them less healthy or even dangerous for people to eat.

Although fish consumption has many health benefits, the Department of Public Health (DPH) has advised pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child bearing age and children under 12 to avoid eating native freshwater fish from Massachusetts lakes, rivers and streams that are not replenished by government stocking programs due to mercury contamination, which comes from a variety of sources. DPH has cautioned all citizens against eating certain types of saltwater fish, as well as fish from bodies of fresh water where sampling has revealed significant mercury levels. DPH also advises that everyone should eat a variety of fish species that have lower levels of mercury: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/exposure/fish_eating_guide.pdf

For more information on MassDEP's dental amalgam/mercury recycling program, turn to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/dentists.htm

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