TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution recognizing the efforts of Californians for Green Dentistry and support for their mission to eliminate the use of mercury in dental practices;
Request that the resolution urge our State legislators to require the installation of dental amalgam separators to catch spilled mercury by a particular date based on discussions with dental associations and consumer groups; and
Request that the resolution encourage all dental practices located in the City of Long Beach to voluntarily cease use of Dental Amalgam, implement Best Management Practices and install dental amalgam separators to catch spilled mercury.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In his speech to Congress last week, President Obama singled out mercury exposure to children as his lead environmental concern in a speech otherwise focused on jobs. The President said: “I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections . . . that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury.”
Created in July, 2010, Californians for Green Dentistry is a grass roots coalition whose mission is to create dental mercury amalgam-free zones in the United States. Consumers for Dental Choice is the umbrella non-profit organization for Californians for Green Dentistry.
Consumers for Dental Choice, was founded in 1996. Their Campaign for Mercury-Free Dentistry started in key states before going national and international. Along the way, they began educating consumers, encouraging access to mercury-free alternatives, challenging arguments rationalizing mercury use and protecting dentists’ right to speak out. During their decade of work in California, they worked on getting a fact sheet into the hands of every California dental patient (under the Watson Law), which dentists are required to make available to patients warning them of various dental materials, including mercury amalgam fillings. The Watson Law was writt...
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