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Related Experiment Videos

Disinfectants' effect on mercury release from amalgam.

Howard W Roberts1, Miroslav Marek, John C Kuehne

  • 1USAF Dental Investigation Service, Great Lakes, IL, USA. hwroberts@nidbr.med.navy.mil

Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|August 3, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Quaternary ammonium compounds do not mobilize mercury from dental amalgam, unlike oxidizing disinfectants. Dentists should choose disinfectants carefully to minimize mercury release and protect the environment.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Materials Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Mercury discharge is under increased scrutiny by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Proper processing of dental amalgam is crucial to prevent environmental mercury burden.
  • Oxidizing disinfectants can mobilize mercury from amalgam, increasing environmental contamination if improperly disposed of.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of representative disinfectants on mercury release from dental amalgam.
  • To identify disinfectants that do not mobilize mercury from amalgam.

Main Methods:

  • High-copper spherical amalgam alloy, typical of dental unit suction traps, was used.
  • Amalgam was exposed to various disinfectant solutions.

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  • Supernatant solutions were analyzed for mercury content.

    • Main Results:

    • Chlorine disinfectants released the most mercury ions.
    • Bromide, iodophor, peroxide/peracetic acid, and phenolic disinfectants also mobilized mercury.
    • Quaternary ammonium compounds did not release detectable mercury ions.

    Conclusions:

    • Quaternary ammonium compounds are a viable option for disinfecting dental amalgam without mobilizing mercury.
    • Chlorine disinfectants mobilize the highest levels of mercury from amalgam.
    • Dental professionals must be aware of disinfectant properties to minimize environmental mercury release.