DRNA Amalgam Separator Is ISO Compliant
Dental Recycling North America (DRNA) recently received verification that its amalgam separator, BU10, is compliant with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 11143 for Dental Equipment - Amalgam Separators, according to a June 26 press release.
NSF International, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., verified the compliance. The device removes dental amalgam, a major source of mercury in wastewater, from dental wastewater.
Mercury contained in dental amalgam has received increasing scrutiny from regulators in their efforts to reduce the discharge of mercury and mercury-containing materials into the environment. A study by Vandeven and McGinnis estimated that dental facilities contribute approximately half of the estimated total mercury load to publicly owned treatment works in the United States (Rule Proposal N.J.A.C. 7:14A-21.12).
Amalgam separators installed in dental facilities have been reported to remove more than 95 percent of the released mercury. Dental amalgam is a durable conglomeration of metals (mercury, silver, tin, etc.) used to fill cavities. Amalgam separators, according to ISO 11143: Dental equipment – Amalgam separators, are designed to retain and reduce the number of amalgam particles entering the sewage system.
DRNA is the first manufacturer to be tested by a U.S. laboratory that is accredited to test to the ISO 11143 standard. ISO 11143:1999(E) specifies performance requirements and test methods for amalgam separators used with dental equipment in the dental treatment center, requiring the separator remove at least 95 percent of amalgam from the dental wastewater.
DRNA is the only company to have its amalgam separation technology verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program, which is administered by NSF. This particular technology was verified by NSF when in use at a local dentist office. Test reports are available on the ETV Web site.