HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - Attachm. 1 Dental Amalgam Resolution - 9/6/2011ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 11-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE CITY
CEO TO PLACE SIGNS CERTAIN CITY -OWNED
PROPERTIES WARNING AGAINST THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF AMALGAM DENTAL
FILLINGS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Dental Amalgam contains about 50% mercury; and
WHEREAS, the State of California recognizes in Proposition 65 that "Dental
Amalgam causes exposure to mercury, a chemical known 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, Dental 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, Dental Amalgam is by far the greatest contributor of mercury to
wastewater; and
WHEREAS, Dental 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
ATTACHMENT 1
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 directs the City CEO to place signs at city -owned buildings.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the signs shall take the following, or similar,
format:
NOTICE TO DENTAL CONSUMERS
Costa Mesa seeks to be a mercury -free city. Dental
Amalgams ("silver fillings") may contain substantial amounts
of mercury and can be a major source of mercury pollution.
You can help stop mercury pollution by choosing mercury -
free dental fillings.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6t" day of September 2011.
/_Nal*1M
Gary Monahan, Mayor
U1 NW 001TI21IXTIV2r01901VLTA A
Julie Folcik, City Clerk Thomas Duarte, City Attorney
ATTACHMENT 1
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 foregoing Resolution No. 11 -- was duly passed and adopted by the City Council
of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the 6t" day of September, 2011,
by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 7t" day of September, 2011.
JULIE FOLCIK, CITY CLERK
(SEAL)