HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-72 - Opposing the Use of Dental MercuryRESOLUTION NO. 10-72-
A RESOLUTION OF THE
CALIFORNIA OPPOSING
MERCURY.
CITY OF COSTA MESA,
THE USE OF DENTAL
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY RESOLVES
AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS,—Dental Amalgam-contains-about-501/o%mercury; and
WHEREAS, the State of California recognizes in Proposition 65 that "Dental
Amalgam causes exposure to mercury, a chemical know to the State of California to
cause birth defects or other reproductive harm" and the State recognizes in the Watson
Law that "mercury may harm the developing brain of a child or fetus,"; and
WHEREAS, Amalgam is the second-largest selling mercury product in the United
States where more mercury resides in human teeth than in all other mercury products
combined; and
WHEREAS, the mercury from dental fillings pollutes our water via dental clinic
releases and household waste; and
WHEREAS, the mercury from dental fillings pollutes our air via cremation, clinic
emissions and sludge incineration; and
WHEREAS, the mercury from dental fillings pollutes our land via landfills, burials
and fertilizer; and
WHEREAS, Amalgam is by far the greatest contributor of mercury to wastewater;
and
WHEREAS, Amalgam, once in the environment, converts to methylmercury and
contaminates the fish we eat; and
WHEREAS, the environmental health effects of mercury are well established —
according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — mercury in the environment
can cause neurological damage, especially to the developing brains and nervous
systems of children and fetuses; and
WHEREAS, dental workers, mostly females of childbearing age, are often
exposed to mercury.in their work environments; and
WHEREAS, many dental consumers, deceived by the term "silver fillings," are
unaware of Amalgam's mercury content and its resulting environmental impact; and
WHEREAS, interchangeable, modern alternatives to Amalgam exist and are
readily available and widely in use.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council opposes the use of Dental Amalgam
and hereby requests that State and Federal agencies with the legal authority to
eliminate the use of mercury in dental practices take the necessary steps to effect this
needed change immediately and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby requests that all
dental practices located in Costa Mesa voluntarily cease use of Dental Amalgam in
advance of State and Federal action and switch to interchangeable, modern alternative
filling materials that are already widely in use and;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby directs that copies of
this resolution be disseminated to the City's State and Federal representatives and to
the other 33 cities in Orange County with a request that they adopt similar resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of October, 2010
Adan- R. Mansoor, Mayor
ATTEST:
FIC i t C I e r k
r '
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Kimberly all Barlow, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 10-72 and was duly
passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting
held on the 19th day of October, 2010, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MANSOOR, LEECE, BEVER, FOLEY, MONAHAN
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 20th day of October, 2010.
4UFZOLCIK, CIT�YC L E R -