Upload
letitia-jacobs
View
216
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Promoting Voluntary Effortsto Reduce Dental Mercury Releases
to Wastewater
Mark McMillanColorado Department of Public Health and Environment
October 29, 2004
Objectives
Why this project, this place?
Project phases
Applying project results statewide
Why this project, this place? March 2002 - Enforcement action against CF&I
Steel (dba Rocky Mountain Steel Mills)
$1,800,000 penalty largely applied to Pueblo-based Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs): $500,000: Community-Based Projects
$500,000: Alternative Energy Projects
$500,000: Mercury Removal Projects
($300,000: Civil Penalty)
Why this project, this place?
Mercury Removal Projects: $400,000 – Mercury Switch Removal Project
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/mercuryhom.asp
$100,000 – Other Pueblo-Based Mercury Pollution Prevention Projects
Why this project, this place? Interest and support from CDPHE Water
Quality Control Division Hg in surface water can bioaccumulate in fish
tissue, posing risk to wildlife and humans that eat contaminated fish
41 states, including Colorado, have issued fish-advisories due to Hg contamination
POTWs may face increasing challenges meeting new, lowered discharge limits for Hg (due to new EPA standard test method)
Why this project, this place? Dentists are a known source of Hg discharges to
wastewater in Colorado An Evaluation of the Source Impacts and Control of Mercury.
Al Garcia, Littleton-Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2002.
Dental Hg releases to wastewater can be minimized through best management practices
Pueblo-based pilot project results may be transferable throughout the state
Project funding: $50,000
Project Phases
Phase 1: Dental Survey/Data Collection
Phase 2: Focused Outreach Effort
Phase 3: Measurement of Project Value and Success
Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection
Survey Purpose: To assess the use of BMP and BAT among Pueblo dentists, and to identify areas for outreach and improvement
Survey results are summarized in:Dental Mercury Pollution PreventionPhase I Summary Report, Tetra Tech EMI Inc., February 2004.
Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection
December 2003: Survey mailed to 59 dentists at 51 practices in Pueblo that either use or remove mercury-containing amalgam
Survey Response Rate:
41 out of 59 dentists responded (69%)
40 out of 51 practices responded (78%)
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
How is Mercury–Containing AmalgamUsed in Your Practice?(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
DescriptionNumber
ResponsesPercent of Responses
Pre-capsulated Hg amalgam mixed with water for each new filling 22 52%
Hg is not used in new fillings, but Hg-containing fillings are removed 16 38%
Elemental Hg mixed w/ other constituents for each new filling 4 10%
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
What Mercury Recovery Equipment is Used in Your Practice?(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
DescriptionNumber
ResponsesPercent
ResponsesEquipment Efficiency
Chair-side trap with secondary filter
27 66% 81%
Chair-side trap alone
13 32% 68%
Hg amalgam separator
1 2% >96%
Mercury Amalgam Separators (The Hg5 Mercury Amalgam Separator System by SolmeteX Inc)
Typically designed for in-line installation between the chair-side water drain and vacuum pump.
Removes particles through physical and chemical processes, including: sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, and ion exchange.
Must be at least 96% efficient to be ISO certified.
Required by law in Maine. Under consideration in seven other states.
Typical cost: $500 - $7,500(Ref. Journal of ADA)
Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection
American Dental Association:
“Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste,” February 2003:
“Amalgam should not be disposed of in the garbage, infectious waste ‘red bag,’ or sharps container…. because some communities incinerate municipal garbage, medical waste, and sludge from wastewater treatment plants.”
ADA strongly recommends recycling as a primary best management practice
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
How is Mercury–Containing WasteDisposed in Your Practice?
(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
Item Disposed Medical Waste
Recycled Trash Other
Scrap amalgam 40% 46% 14% 0%
Empty amalgam capsules
42% 11% 39% 8%
Hg-containing extracted teeth
85% 7.5% 7.5% 0%
Screens 52% 9% 33% 6%
Traps 64% 12% 18% 6%
Filters 66% 10% 17% 7%
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
Under What Circumstances Would You Install an Amalgam Separator?
(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
CircumstanceNumber
ResponsesPercent of Responses
Required by Law 28 46%
Encouraging Statement from ADA
14 23%
Cost below $500 10 17%
No Cost 4 7%
Other 4 7%
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
How Informed Do You Feel Regarding Hg BMPs and BATs?
(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
How Informed?Number
ResponsesPercent of Responses
Highly informed 9 20%
Moderately informed 25 56%
Not well informed 2 4%
Want more information 8 18%
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
What Type of AssistanceWould Be Most Helpful?
(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
Type of AssistanceNumber
ResponsesPercent of Responses
Outreach Material 15 27%
Financial Assistance 10 18%
Workshop 8 15%
Implementation Assistance 8 15%
Training 6 11%
Other 5 9%
Trial or Money Back Guar. 3 5%
Phase 1: Dental Survey Results
What Form of Recognition (If Any) Would Be Favorable to You?
(59 Pueblo dentists surveyed)
Form of RecognitionNumber
ResponsesPercent of Responses
Placard/Certification 10 24%
Newspaper 7 17%
Other 2 5%
Phase 2: Focused Outreach
Dental Hg Fact Sheet
Panel Seminar
Increased Involvement by the Colorado Dental Association (CDA)
Phase 2: Dental Hg Fact Sheet
Regulatory Outlook for Pueblo Dentists
Mercury Amalgam Separators
Vendors, Operation/Maintenance, Cost
Mercury Recycling
Recyclers, Materials, Methods, Cost
BMP Scorecard
Phase 2: Panel Seminar
May 18, 2004 at Pueblo City-County Library
Agenda: Welcome and Introduction by CDA
Regulatory Outlook for Pueblo Dentists
Mercury Amalgam Separators
• Vendors, types of separators, installation considerations, operation/maintenance
Mercury Recycling
• Vendors, types of recyclables, how to implement a recycling program
Breakout Session
Phase 3: Measurement of Project Value and Success
Follow-up Survey to Pueblo Dentists – May 2004
Final Summary Report - August 2004 Summary of Project Results: BMPs/BATs implemented, Hg releases
prevented, life cycle of Hg captured
Lessons Learned: Barriers to amalgam separator implementation
Recommendations for project improvement
Recommendations for statewide implementation
Project Follow-up – 2005
Overall Conclusions From Dental P2 Effort Surveys Useful for Gauging Interest,
Gathering Information Dentists Thought Fact Sheet, BMP
Insert, Meetings Worthwhile Voluntary Programs May Limit Need
for Regulations Voluntary Programs Allow
Participants to Customize Their Role Efforts Transferable
Applying Project Results Statewide
Pueblo pilot project is a first-step in providing compliance assistance to Colorado POTWs charged with meeting new, lowered discharge permit limits for Hg.
Outreach materials, including dental fact-sheet, vendor information, and panel seminar materials, will be made transferable through out the state.
Outreach materials and ongoing summary reports available at: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/dental.asp
Comments/Questions/Ideas?
Contact: Mark McMillan
CDPHE Mercury [email protected], 303-692-3140
Rick KoplitzWater Quality Control Division, CDPHE [email protected] ,303-692-3618
Paul Cozetta Water Quality Control, City of Pueblo [email protected], 729-544-3453