A dental practice needs to follow strict rules and guidelines around the storage and waste of various products and materials. Gypsum is no different.
It is a key tool when producing three-dimensional models for treatment planning in orthodontic, restorative and prosthetic dental care. However, the disposal of gypsum requires careful consideration. If clinicians do not act in line with the appropriate regulations, they could put the environment and individuals at risk.
A reliable material
Gypsum cannot be simply sent as waste to landfill. Guidelines such as the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 are in place to prevent this happening, but why is this the case?
Made up of calcium sulphate (CaSO4) and water (H2O),1 the mineral has many uses, including in gypsum boards or ceilings in building industries.1
Traces of gypsum used in plaster date back for millennia,2 and plaster of Paris (a derivative of gypsum) has been used as a dental impression material as far back as the 1840s.3
Gypsum-based products are non-hazardous in their dry form, but they can become dangerous when subject to water sorption4.
Breaking it down
Wasting gypsum at a regular landfill could provide wet and anaerobic conditions, where sulphate reducing bacteria thrive.5 These microbes use sulphate (SO4-2) as an oxygen source. They leave sulphide (S-2) as a by-product, and ultimately create hydrogen sulphide (H2S).1
With a distinctive smell of rotten eggs,1 hydrogen sulphide contact can result in irritable eyes, nose and throat. It may make breathing difficult, especially for asthmatic individuals.6
There are also a number of neurological effects. In the short term, exposure to the gas may cause headaches, poor memory recall, balance issues, and general tiredness. The headaches and memory problems could continue into the long-term, as well as difficulties with attention span and poor motor function.6
The right way to waste
It’s no surprise that regulations are in place to prohibit gypsum disposal in a regular landfill. Each dental practice has the responsibility to segregate the appropriate materials and see that they reach a specialist landfill site that will not combine them with biodegradable waste.7
Keeping a designated gypsum container for all waste products is a simple way to begin this process in your practice. This allows you to achieve complete compliance before you move your waste to the appropriate collection service.
You could use the Eco Gypsum Waste Containers from Initial Medical, for safe and legally compliant waste management in your practice. The containers can hold up to 16L of waste material, and are made from 100% recycled polymers to further protect the world around your practice.
Effective waste management solutions in your practice help you handle materials like gypsum safely. You can keep on top of your practice’s regulatory obligations, whilst also helping to protect those around you. Learn more on how to dispose of gypsum waste.
Sources:
1. Panza, D., & Belgiorno, V. (2010). Hydrogen sulphide removal from landfill gas. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 88(6), 420-424.
2. da Silveira Paulo, M., do Rosário Veiga, M., & De Brito, J. (2007). Gypsum coatings in ancient buildings. Construction and Building Materials, 21(1), 126-131.
3. Goyal, G. & Nagar, S. (2014). History of impressions, impression materials and impression techniques in complete dentures. Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research, 2(2).
4. Subramanian, A. K., Nivethigaa, B., Srirengalakshmi, M., Varghese, R. M., Navaneethan, R., & Babu, H. (2020). Biomedical waste management practice in dentistry. Bioinformation, 16(11), 958.
5. Meyer-Dombard, D. A. R., Bogner, J. E., & Malas, J. (2020). A review of landfill microbiology and ecology: A call for modernization with ‘next generation’ technology. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1127.
6. Martin, N., Sheppard, M., Gorasia, G., Arora, P., Cooper, M., & Mulligan, S. (2021). Awareness and barriers to sustainability in dentistry: A scoping review. Journal of Dentistry, 112, 103735.
7. Environment Agency, (2020). Dispose of waste to landfill. (Online) Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dispose-of-waste-to-landfill#dispose-of-gypsum-based-and-other-high-sulphate-bearing-material [Accessed September 2023]
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