Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
08:12
Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
Environmental issues in dentistry--mercury. FDI Commission
P L Fan1, D Arenholt-Bindslev, G Schmalz
1American Dental Association, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678, USA.
International Dental Journal
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Dental amalgam use requires mercury, raising environmental concerns. This study explores reducing mercury discharge through careful practice, waste management, and disposal, recommending further research.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Dental Materials Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Dental amalgam restorations necessitate mercury for trituration.
- Mercury use in dentistry poses potential environmental risks.
- Global mercury discharge varies due to natural and anthropogenic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and evaluate methods for minimizing mercury's environmental impact from dental practices.
- To assess the contribution of dental activities to overall mercury pollution.
- To provide recommendations for reducing mercury discharge and future research.
Main Methods:
- Review of mercury usage and hygiene protocols in dental settings.
- Analysis of wastewater treatment strategies, including filters and separators.
- Examination of amalgam waste disposal procedures.
Main Results:
- Careful mercury handling, waste management, and proper disposal can significantly reduce environmental discharge.
- The contribution of dental practices to mercury pollution is context-dependent.
- Existing methods offer potential for mercury reduction.
Conclusions:
- Implementing stringent mercury management in dental practices is crucial for environmental protection.
- Further research is needed to fully understand and mitigate the environmental impact of mercury from dental sources.
- Developing and adopting advanced mercury reduction technologies is recommended.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Dimensions of Health and Illness
The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:26Minerals
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
01:19Acid Mine Drainage
Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...