More than a dozen Massachusetts dental practices and facilities are being fined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for failing to comply with regulations that prevent mercury-based dental amalgam from being released into the state's water resources, the agency announced.
Most of the state's dental practices are complying with 3-year-old regulations that require them to install and operate wastewater treatment systems, recycle amalgam wastes, and periodically certify that they are complying with the rules, according to MassDEP.
"Some 3,000 dentists across the Commonwealth have taken important steps to prevent releases of mercury and safely recycle waste mercury," MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said in a press release. "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.
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