Mercury Use in Dental Amalgam

FACT SHEET
Mercury Use in Dental Amalgam

This Fact Sheet summarizes the use of mercury in dental amalgam. It is based on data obtained only from the Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC)¹ Mercury-Added Products Database².

Dental amalgam is used in restorative work for filling teeth. It is an alloy that contains mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements. Mercury typically makes up about 50 percent of the amalgam. In the past dentists mixed amalgam from bulk liquid mercury and metal powders. Today dental amalgam is purchased in pre-dosed amalgam capsules, which come in different sizes.

Amount of Mercury Used in Dental Amalgam

Table 1 presents the amount of mercury used in dental amalgam capsules. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of mercury-added products may report to the IMERC member states the amount of mercury used as an exact number or as a range. The amount of mercury in an individual amalgam capsule can range from greater than 100 milligrams to 1 gram (1,000 milligrams) of mercury.

A number of important caveats must be considered when reviewing the data summarized in this fact sheet:

• The information may not represent the entire universe of dental amalgam sold in the U.S. and therefore may underestimate the total amount of mercury reported for this category of products. The IMERC member states continuously receive Product Notification Forms from mercury-added product manufacturers, and the data presented in this Fact Sheet may underestimate the total amount of mercury sold in these products.


• The information summarizes mercury in dental amalgam sold nationwide in the U.S. in calendar years 2001. It does not include dental amalgam sold prior to January 1, 2001.


• Reported data includes only mercury that is used in the product, and does not include mercury emitted during mining, manufacturing, or other points in the products life cycle.

Total Amount of Mercury in Dental Amalgam

The total amount of mercury in dental amalgam sold in the U.S. during calendar year 2001, as reported to the IMERC member states, was 61,409 pounds (27,913,088.5 grams) or 30.7 tons.

¹The Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) was established by state environmental officials from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to help them implement laws and programs aimed at getting mercury out of consumer products, the waste stream, and the environment. Washington State officially joined IMERC in 2003. IMERC is a program of the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA). In 2001 the NEWMOA member states launched IMERC to provide:

• ongoing technical and programmatic assistance to states that have enacted mercury education and reduction legislation


• a single point of contact for industry and the public for information on mercury-added products and member states’ mercury education and reduction programs

NEWMOA’s staff provides logistical, facilitation, and technical support for the activities of IMERC.

²The Mercury-added Products Database contains information on the amount and purpose of mercury in products submitted by, or on behalf of, product manufacturers in compliance with laws in the states of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Beginning in 2001, these states required companies manufacturing, distributing, or importing mercury-added products to report certain information on these products. The information is reviewed and approved by an IMERC Notification Committee comprised of representatives from each participating state. The online Mercury-added Product Database and the Notification Forms and Instructions can be found at the following URL: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc/notification/

Published in June 2006