1999 New Hampshire
Pollution Prevention Internship Program
Final Report
Project Title
UNH Liaison
Intern
Calvin So
P.O Box 588
Hillsboro, NH 03244
E-mail:c_so@des.state.nh.us
Home phone: 603-464-4715
Work Phone: 603-271-6460
Facility
NH Pollution Prevention (P2) Program
NH DES
6 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Contact Person
Sara Johnson
Pollution Prevention Specialist
Phone: 603-271-6460
Date
September 7th, 1999
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I was the UNH liaison for the Pollution Prevention Internship Program. My responsibilities
varied from assisting the mercury pollution prevention in NH dental offices, coordinating student
intern activities, conducting P2 literature and vendor searches to assisting NHPPP staff when
requested.
During the first two weeks of work, I researched information and articles about dental waste
on the internet and P2 files. I created a brochure for dentists about mercury waste, best management
practices, and amalgam. Mercury can have major impacts on patients and the environment.
Patients may be exposed to mercury if it is vaporized and escapes from the amalgam. In a dental
office, amalgam may escape from the chair-side traps and vacuum filters. The mercury can travel
through the sewer system to the wastewater treatment plant, where the mercury can be released to
the environment. The brochure also suggested dentists to use white fillings (mercury-free) instead
of silver fillings. I also created a checklist to accompany to the brochure. The checklist is about
environmental compliance and mercury management in dental offices.
Besides working on the mercury project, I created the list of interns’ data and contacted
them for updated information. I researched articles on regulatory alerts and case study for the Fall
issue of Wastelines. Wastelines is a quarterly newsletter distributed to over 800 businesses,
government personnel and other individuals around the country. After compiling the articles, I
created the first draft of the Fall issue of Wastelines. Other tasks were to assist the staff on
information request by companies. I researched the P2 database and internet to search for the nonhazardous carpet cleaning solvents, environmental friendly floor wax and Jerome meters. The hard
copies of the materials were sent to the companies. Other projects that I did were entering data into
spreadsheets that I created from annual report, manifest forms, household hazardous waste report
forms, and EPA documents/books. These databases will help the household hazardous waste
program compile past year records more efficiently.
I have done several other tasks for the staff. These tasks include creating short webpages
for lead sinkers, Governor’s Award winners, schedule of household hazardous waste collection
days, preparing two presentation files in MS power point, and searching for graphics for Wastelines
and an Environmental Quiz. For the up coming P2 week celebration in September, I was asked to
create a display to show people/consumers some environmental tips on how to save the Earth.
Finally, I organized all vendors’ folders.
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
The NHPPP is a confidential, non-regulatory assistance program which is available free of
charge to New Hampshire businesses. NHPPP's services can help businesses evaluate existing
conditions that generate waste and recommend proven, economically favorable options for reducing,
reusing and recycling waste materials -- while at the same time reducing the ever-rising costs
associated with disposal, regulatory compliance, liability, and environmental impact. The NHPPP
staff combines extensive research and information sources with experienced professionals to
provide businesses with expert services not normally available to businesses.
Mercury is one of the most toxic chemicals in the world, but it is a very common product
used by the dentists. In the silver amalgam, mercury consists to a 1 to 1 mixture of mercury and
powder of silver, tin, copper and zinc. For many years people believed that mercury was locked into
fillings and could not escape. Unfortunately, that is not true. Scientists found out mercury does
escape from the amalgam in the form of vapor, which is the most toxic phase. Scientists proved that
sufficient amounts of mercury vapor could cause systemic diseases in some patients. For example,
mercury can cause decrease amount of hair growth or substantial hair loss. Mercury can cause
single strand breaks in the DNA [Reference 1].
Using mercury amalgam not only could harm patients, it can also pollute the environment
through waste disposal. Since only 50% of mercury is used when dentists fill our cavities, the other
50% is going down the drain. Some of the amalgams that contain mercury will bypass the amalgam
trap, and will be released to our environment. Once the mercury is released to the environment it
causes problems for our ecosystem. For instance, small fish and other living organisms living in the
water can absorb mercury. When larger fish eat the smaller fish, much of the mercury present in the
small fish will be absorbed and stored in their bodies. Therefore, large fish at the top of the food
chain, like bass and pickerel, can collect a relatively large amount of mercury. Mercury has no
purpose in the human body and when taken into the body may pose a danger to human health.
Mercury can build up in the body over time from ingesting contaminated fish. Exposure to high
levels of mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus [Reference 2].
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of being the UNH Liaison are assisting the mercury pollution prevention in
NH dental offices, coordinating student intern activities, conducting P2 literature and vendor
searches, and assisting NHPPP staff when requested.
APPROACH/ACCOMPLISHMENT
Assisted mercury pollution prevention in NH dental offices:
Mercury is commonly used by the dentists, and we are not sure if it is being disposed it
properly. Because of these reasons, I created a brochure about mercury pollution prevention in
dental offices [Appendix 1]. The brochure showed dentists how mercury could affect human health
and the environment. The brochure gave the P2 tips for the dentists, such as never rinse amalgam
traps over drains and never discard amalgam in a red bag. It also mentioned dentists are eligible to
apply for the Governor’s Award if they have P2 procedures in place. To accompany the brochure, I
also created a checklist for dentists about environmental compliance and pollution prevention
[Appendix 2]. Checklist will be made available to dentists on the web post or mass mailing. The
NH dental Society and DES are working together to decide the best way to disseminate the outreach
material. Therefore, I was not able to send out the brochure and checklist. Collection of dental
amalgam is being reviewed by regulators, dental society and dentists to see if this is an option.
Coordinated student intern activities:
The interns’ information (including the name of contact person, E-mail address and home
and work phone numbers) is collected and put into a table [Appendix 3] using Wordperfect. I
called, faxed or emailed interns about important and latest information/message [Appendix 4] from
Dr. Ihab Farag. Sometimes, I also helped with questions from other interns. I wrote an article about
P2 intern program and their summer projects outlines. The article is going to be in the next
publication of Environmental News. Before each intern presentation, the program outline were
created.
Conducted P2 literature and vendor searches:
Sometimes when we received the requests about P2 or recycling from other companies, I
would research the data files, magazines or internet to get answers. For instance, a company called
and wanted to know what they could use for non-hazardous carpet cleaning. A company wanted to
know about Jerome Meters where they could buy them. Another company requested us to suggest
some non-toxic floor wax. For these projects, I searched on the internet and printed out the
materials. The packages that were sent to the companies included alternative products, DES
brochure and Wastelines. Other P2 searches that I did were dental amalgam collections in the
country and school mercury management. I spent a lot of time on the internet for these topics
although not much information was found.
Assisted NHPPP staffs when requested:
There were so many tasks that I have done for the NHPPP staff. I did a few projects that
were related to the database. For instances, I gathered the data from annual reports, manifest forms
and household hazardous waste report forms into spreadsheets. For the 1997 and 1998 annual
reports, I compiled the data, such as EPA ID numbers, locations and names of companies, and
created a table [Appendix 5] using Lotus 1-2-3. I entered the manifest document numbers and
names of companies from the 1998 manifest forms into a new table [Appendix 6]. As the
household hazardous waste report forms, I pulled out all the files from 1985 to 1998 and found the
household hazardous waste collection program information in NH. The information included the
collection’s location, date, total project cost, state grant, and numbers of cars and households
participating. Then I organized the data and created a spreadsheet [Appendix 7]. The DES is
creating a library in its building this summer. They requested me to make a list of information
including names of the books, year published and EPA# from a couple boxes of EPA documents
[Appendix 8].
Besides working on the database, I also created or updated some NHPPP webpages
[Appendix 9]. The first webpage was about the 1999 Governor’s Award Winners, which I
reformatted. The second webpage told people about dropping off the lead sinkers in DES and save
the loons. On this webpage, I formatted and did the graphics. Finally, the third webpage was to
update the latest schedule of household hazardous waste collection days in NH.
Organizing vendor folders was very time consuming, it took me a few days to accomplish it.
The purpose of doing it was to minimize the used spaces in the drawers. The moving is in progress
at DES this summer. Sometimes I was asked to help the staff moved and organized things. Some
of the tasks needed my creativity. For instances, NH P2 week is coming in mid-September, and I
created a display [Appendix 10] that is going to use in DES lobby. The display tells people how to
save energy and water in our houses, how to get rid of the junk mail and to use non-toxic cleaning
products. Another time consuming task is searching for graphics. I would look for graphics for
certain articles or issues on the internet and in their graphic databases, such as Wastelines and the
Environmental Quiz.
Finally, some various tasks included preparing presentation slides for two DES staff, Paul
Lockwood and Stephanie D’Agostino [Appendix 11], creating a draft Fall issue of Wastelines
[Appendix 12], and writing a short article about Lin Hill. I also attended the Solid Waste Training
Conference on July 29th at DES.
CHEMICAL USAGE
None
RELEASES/WASTES GENERATED
None
POLLUTION PREVENTION BENEFITS
Pollution prevention benefits can be realized through the variety of tasks that I completed.
By decreasing the amount of mercury being used by dentists, there will be less mercury released into
the environment. Thus, fish takes up less mercury from water, and humans will absorb less mercury
after consuming fish. Both fish and humans receive benefits. By increasing proper disposal and
recycling of mercury, the environment will be less contaminated and recycled mercury can be used
in other products. By educating dentists removing mercury amalgam from red bags, mercury
amalgam will no longer go to the incinerator and pollute the air. Through the information packages,
Wastelines and webpages, businesses are educated about pollution prevention, alternative products,
case studies, etc. For example, by switching carpet cleaners, employees will work in a safer and
cleaner environment because non-toxic products have less hazardous fumes. The employers will
probably save money if the companies use non-toxic products, because employees will have better
health without inhaling toxic odors and will work efficiently. By educating consumers/general
public about pollution prevention through the P2 display, people will save money, energy, water,
electricity and paper. During the DES move, the employees recover folders and 3-ring binders to be
recycled or reused. By reusing the materials, the state can save money.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE EFFORTS
Continue to work with the NH Dental Society with the mercury project in the dental offices.
For example, complete the brochure and checklist, or create a webpage about the project. Collect
the amalgam from dentists and encourage them to recycle or educate about proper disposal. Keep
current databases and webpages updated more frequently. For example, P2 week webpage was
updated with correct dates in July which is held in September. For organizing vendor files, I
suggest the best way is to be more selective about what goes in the files. Therefore, time is not
wasted to review all files and take out the useless or outdated information. The same procedure can
be done with the Wastelines issue, I recommend to look for articles few months ahead a time to
avoid doing all at once. Another time consuming task is the graphics searching, I recommend to
buy a better graphic software rather than search on internet.
REFERENCES
[1] http://www.mercuryfree.co.uk/mercury.html
[2] Mercury in New Hampshire Freshwater Fish by NH Department of Health & Human Services