The Science Behind Amalgam and Amalgam Separators

Even Reliable Sources Make Mistakes Continued

Facilities REQUIRED to Install Amalgam Separators or an Equivalent Amalgam Removal Device

Dental offices that place or remove amalgam

If NO amalgam separator was installed on or before June 14, 2017If an amalgam separator was installed on or before June 14, 2017

Install amalgam removal device by July 14, 2020 OR when required by Local Control Group, whichever comes first.

AS LONG AS YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM MEETS LOCAL STANDARDS, you may keep the current separator until June 14, 2027, OR within 10 days of the separator

breaking down, whichever comes first.Dental Practices opening after July 14th, 2017 require an amalgam separator immediately.

One-Time Compliance Report Required by• Oct. 12, 2020 (began discharging on or before July 14, 2017)• Within 90 days of starting discharge (began discharging after July 14, 2017)• Within 90 days of transferring ownership, if applicable

Installed amalgam removal devices must comply with the following Best Management Practices:

1) Keep One-Time Compliance Report on Record for lifetime of ownership2) Monitor system according to manufacturer’s recommendation3) Maintain by replacing amalgam retaining cartridge, separator canister or units as directed by manufacture

OR when the amalgam separator stops preforming at the systems specified efficiency, whichever comes first. 4) Do not use oxidizing or acidic cleaners (pH < 6 or pH > 8) on dental unit water lines, chair-side traps and vacuum lines.

EPA Regulation Compliance Flow-Chart

Must Maintain Records On Site for 3 years of:- Any reports filed- A visual inspection log (If required by manufacturer)- Documentation of any repair or replacement (Cartridges/Filters, etc.)- Disposal Records- Certificate of Compliance (If supplied by manufacturer)- Manufacturer’s current operating manual for the device in place.

Choose a Separator

The American Dental Association is recommending a particular brand of Amalgam Separator

Please Note: The ADA was paid for the endorsement.

The information provided here is independent and Purves Environmental, Inc. has never been paid for the case studies.

All data presented is from actual samples taken in the field.

Dental Facilities are the Leading Contributor of Mercury in the Environment.

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Data is an average of actual analysis accumulated by Purves Environmental since 2003. Reduction in all categories continues except in Dental.

Average Mercury Discharge by Category

Overall Average

Data is an average of actual analysis accumulated by Purves Environmental since 2003

Reduction in all categories continues except in Dental

The Dental groups must wake up to the facts that they are becoming a major contributor.

Samples were taken from manholes near dental offices.

Dental 14300

Industrial 125

Medical 390

Residental 78

Mercury Amalgam Dissolves in Water

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Dissolving rate of amalgam mercury in water

Series1

Courtesy of Purves Environmental

Implementation Issues

• Dentists

• Don’t think it is necessary

• ADA telling dentists that mercury is really not a big issue

• ADA endorsing old technology

Office Total Mercury from the Separator in ng/L

Dissolved Mercury from the Separator in ng/L*

Separator Type

1 17,500,000 7,500,000 Hg5

2 7,290,000 2,530,000 Hg5

3 660,000 452,000 Hg5

4 534,000 378,000 Hg5

5 1,250,000 811,000 Medentex

6 10,200,000 5,210,000 DRNA

7 65,600 36,600 LibertyBOSS

*Purves Environmental Independent Study

Conclusion of Purves Environmental:

“Dental Separator Study”

“A visual examination of the water from each of the separators

demonstrated that the discharge of the water was cloudy with

particulate. The difference in the total to dissolved mercury

content strongly demonstrates that not only do the separators

not remove all mercury but a significant quantity of dissolved

mercury is discharged to the environment. Under the

proposed EPA Guidelines for separators, the problem of

mercury entering the environment will not be solved. The

separator in office #7 is the only unit that is capable of

removing both solid and dissolved mercury from the

environment. Their design provides the highest removal rate

under normal operating parameters and treats both the total

and dissolved mercury.”

Introduction toAmalgam Separators Maintenance

Does it contain any Phosphates:

Solids collector (Evac-u-trap) should be positioned AFTER the amalgam separator

i. Any discharge from the amalgam separator is safe for release into sewer system

ii. Placing solids collector in front of separator will result in extra toxic waste disposal costs

DryVac

What is Wrong?Inlet from Chairs

Wye

To Amalgam Separator

To Pump #1(Outlet of Amalgam Separator )

To Pump #2(No amalgam Separator )

Wet Vac

System on Bypass Correct Installation

Max Operatories: 10

Service Life: Filters are to be changed once a year or when they are full

Maintenance required:- Checking the fill level of Solid Collection Filter and upper chamber once a week- Replace Solid Collection Filter when sediment reaches fill line or every 12 months (one year) from the date of installation. - Use approved neutral line cleaner everyday

Note: Plan to rinse no more than 5 rooms every 10 minutes. Limit rinsing to 1.5 liters per room. Rinsing too much or too rapidly can overfill the Hg5® and could affect the unit’s efficiency.

SOLMETEX HG5

Hg5 Filter Maintenance

1 op - 1 Doctor, no Hygienist 1 Filter every 12 months2 op - 1 Doctor, 1 Hygienist 1 Filter every 8-12 months3 op - 1 Doctor, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 6 months4-5 op - 2 Doctors, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 4-6 months6 - 7 op – 2-3 Doctors, 3-4 Hygienist1 Filter every 3-4 months 8- 9 op - 3-4 Doctors, 4-5 Hygienist

1 Filter every 2 months10 op – 4-5 Doctors, 5-6 Hygienist1-2 Filters every month11 op – Cannot be installed in more than 10 ops

Hg5: Things to Watch Out For

Upper Chamber CloggingHg5 NXT – 4 Months Old, Neglected

Upper chamber in overflow

Sludge build up in Upper Chamber

No sludge, only water in canister

System on Overflow

Hg5: Things to Watch Out For

Upper Chamber Cracking Separation of Upper Chamber Toxic Spill from Upper Chamber

Crosstex Syclone

Max Operatories: 10

Service Life: Filters are to be changed once a year or when they are full

Maintenance required: - Checking the fill level of Solid Collection Filter and replacing as necessary.- Replacing the Solid Collection Filter 12 months (one year) from the date of installation.- Use approved neutral line cleaner everyday

Syclone Filter Maintenance

1 op - 1 Doctor, no Hygienist 1 Filter every 12 months2 op - 1 Doctor, 1 Hygienist 1 Filter every 12 months3 op - 1 Doctor, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 8-12 months4-5 op - 2 Doctors, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 6-8 months6 - 7 op – 2-3 Doctors, 3-4 Hygienist1 Filter every 6 months 8- 9 op - 3-4 Doctors, 4-5 Hygienist

1 Filter every 4 months10 op – 4-5 Doctors, 5-6 Hygienist1 Filter every 4 months11 op – Cannot be installed in more than 10 ops

System is not common enough to get accurate filter change outs. Chart above is based on the size of the filter compared to the Apavia’s relative, the Hg5. (Hg5 is 500ml capacity, Apavia is 1.5 L capacity)

Syclone: Things to Watch Out For

Upper Chamber CloggingFull filter and Full Upper Chamber

Check o-rings if loss of suction after

filter change

Sludge in upper chamber

Filter pins tend to vibrate out, having the filter drop from upper chamber. Check Weekly during filter/upper chamber inspections

If there is a loss of suction after filter change – check o-rings as they tend to slip out of their channel

Failed Filter

Acadia

Max Operatories: 10

Service Life: Filters are to be changed once a year or when they are full

Maintenance required: - Checking the Large Particle Inlet Filter Strainer for any blockages and cleaning as necessary. The contents of the inlet filter strainer should be considered toxic and will have to be disposed of as toxic material- Checking the fill level of Solid Collection Filter and replacing as necessary.- Replacing the Solid Collection Filter 12 months (one year) from the date of installation.- Use approved neutral line cleaner everyday

Acadia Filter Maintenance

1 op - 1 Doctor, no Hygienist 1 Filter every 12 months2 op - 1 Doctor, 1 Hygienist 1 Filter every 8-12 months3 op - 1 Doctor, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 6 months4-5 op - 2 Doctors, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 4-6 months6 - 7 op – 2-3 Doctors, 3-4 Hygienist1 Filter every 3-4 months 8- 9 op - 3-4 Doctors, 4-5 Hygienist

1 Filter every 2 months10 op – 4-5 Doctors, 5-6 Hygienist1-2 Filters every month11 op – Cannot be installed in more than 10 ops

Acadia: Things to Watch Out For

Inlet Filter Contains Amalgam

Sludge build up in upper chamber

Should be emptied weekly into toxic waste container

Sludge in upper chamber

Picture taken 2016, filter installed 2014

Filter has not been changed for 2 years because upper chamber is clogged, leaving filter look empty, everything is on over flow

ECO II

Max Operatories: 6

Service Life: Filters are to be changed once a year or when they are full

Maintenance required: - Use approved cleaner daily - Change whole unit when full or in 1 year- Inspect system monthly

1 op - 1 Doctor, no Hygienist 1 Filter every 12 months2 op - 1 Doctor, 1 Hygienist 1 Filter every 8-12 months3 op - 1 Doctor, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 6 months4-5 op - 2 Doctors, 2 Hygienist1 Filter every 4-6 months6 op – 2-3 Doctors, 3-4 Hygienist1 Filter every 3-4 months

For offices with more than 6 chair, you are required the Tandem Eco II

ECO II Maintenance

Eco II: Things to Watch Out For Neglected System

Outlet of Neglected System – Over Flow

Sludge Level

Fill Line

Neglected System Cracked System

R&D

Max Operatory: CH 12: 1 operatory CE 18: 1-4 operatoryCE 24: 1-12 operatory

Liquid Level Maintenance:

- Adjust decanting tube to assure the 1 ½” gap above sludge level

- Each morning decant all water 1 ½” above sludge level

- Every morning shine a light to check sludge level

- Use a daily evacuation line cleaner

WARNING: System’s decanting valve has been known to be left open to suction sludge out of the amalgam separator, essentially by passing the system.

R&D: Things to Watch Out For

Neglected System Poor Installation(Series instead of Parallel)

Chance for major failure

Installed in By-Pass

Failed Auto-Decater

LibertyBOSS

Max Operatories: 15

Service Life: 1-3 Chairs = 3 years4-9 Chairs = 2 years10+ Chairs= 1 year

Maintenance required:- Use approved neutral line cleaner everyday - Whole LibertyBOSS changed at end of service life

LibertyBOSS: Things to Know

15 chair practice 5 years over due on overflow. Never loss suction.

3 years over due, never loss suction

Call M.A.R.S

for Install and Due

dates

Evacuation Line Cleaner

What is Acceptable? What is Dangerous?

Photo courtesy of M.A.R.S. Bio-Processes Inc.

EPA Regulation – The Clean Water Act

The three classes of pollutants are “extremely” important for dental practices, even practices that do not require amalgam separators:

• conventional pollutants

• toxic metals (mercury)

• non-conventional pollutants like ammonia and phosphorus (found in some evacuation line cleaners)

Although not said in the EPA Regulation, we will discover later that dental practices can now be classified as a more restrictive category such as CIU (Category Industrial User) if designated so by the control authority (POTW) .

Best Management Practices

• The selection of pH higher than 6 and less than 8 is excellent as that is the range where pH causes less amalgam to be solubilized. For example, line cleaners with a pH of 1 or 2 can generate approximately 780,000 ng/L of soluble mercury (see attached charts on “Soluble Mercury Released due to pH).

• Bleach, chlorine and peroxide have been used in the past as line cleaners and sometimes for general cleaning (when diluted). With the implementation of these regulations, these products are no longer allowed. Line cleaning products with a pH lower than 6 and/or higher than 8 will be prohibited under the new regulation. No phosphates allowed.

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DISSOLVED MERCURY AT VARIOUS PH

Courtesy of Purves Environmental

Bio-Film Build-UpWrong or No Line Cleaner

Courtesy M.A.R.S. Bio-Med Processes Inc.

Suction Lines after the Right Cleaner

Pollution Prevention Forms