EPA Finalizes Effluent Guidelines Rule for Dental Metals

EPA has finalized a regulation to reduce discharges of mercury and other metals from dental offices into municipal wastewater treatment plants, and thus to waterways that may serve as drinking water supplies.  EPA expects that this final rule will reduce the discharge of dental metals to wastewater treatment plants by at least 10.2 tons per year, about half of which is mercury.  This rule will strengthen human health protection by requiring the use of technology and best management practices in dentists’ offices across the country recommended by the American Dental Association, and that approximately 40 percent of dental offices already employ.  Once the mercury is captured, it will also be able to be recycled.  For more information, visit EPA’s website.