Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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The Effects on Water Quality of Mercury Released from Dental Amalgam

치과용 아말감에서 유리된 수은이 수질에 미치는 영향

  • Ko, Jae-Wan (Department of Public Health, School of Environment and Public Health, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Sakong, Joon (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine Yeungnam University)
  • 고재완 (영남대학교 환경보건대학원 보건학과) ;
  • 사공준 (영남대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2018.01.10
  • Accepted : 2018.02.19
  • Published : 2018.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives: Based on the amount of amalgam, the duration of exposure, and the water pH, this study aims to investigate the change patterns in the mercury concentrations in water after amalgams have been introduced into sewage water. It is expected that the study results will be useful in improving the system for regulating the amount of mercury that is introduced into the environment. Methods: During the study, a glass test-tube with a cap was washed and disinfected using the glass laboratory device washing method. Then, 1, 2, 3, and 4 tabs were placed into a 10 mL pH 4 solution and 10 mL pH 7 distilled water. Each specimen was prepared in duplicate. The mean of the two mercury concentrations was used as the representative value, and the mercury concentration was measured using a mercury measurement device (DMA-80, Milestone, Italy) a total of eight times at one-week intervals. Results: The results show that the lower was the pH, the higher was the amount of amalgam. Also the longer was the duration, the more significant was the increase of mercury concentration in the water. Conclusions: Dental clinics are collected separately from dental clinics that used them. Given this, dental clinics in Korea must have the necessary facilities to separately collect mercury at their level. In addition, proper disposal systems and social attention to the proper management of dental wastes are required to prevent environmental pollution from mercury.

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