EPA-HSE Conference 2018

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Health Services Executive (HSE) Conference 2018, "Knowledge & Data"

This conference is in its third year and provides a platform for researchers to connect and share knowledge on current environmental and health research. Researchers funded by EPA and HSE grants were given an opportunity to showcase their projects. This years’ focus was on ‘Knowledge & Data’ and highlighted the need for open access and good quality data on a national level to aid further research and knowledge.

Research on the environmental and health impacts arising from mercury-free dental restorative materials, which is currently undertaken in collaboration between the Oral Health Services Research Centre (OHSRC), the School of BEES (Biological, Earth and Environmental Science) in University College Cork (UCC), the Cork University Dental School and Hospital (CUDSH) and the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), was presented by Hannah Binner (MSc student) and Dr Naghmeh Kamali (Postdoc), who are working on this project under supervision from Dr Mairead Harding (OHSRC) and Dr Timothy Sullivan (School of BEES, UCC). This study examines the environmental impacts of mercury-free dental materials by using analytical chemistry methods to identify particles and substances of these being present in the wastewater exiting the dental chair and assessing the efficacy of amalgam separators to capture not only dental amalgam, but also mercury-free dental materials. The health impacts are examined through identification of potential exposure routes and risks within dental practices in form of an occupational health risk assessment. Studies like these highlighted the need for more and better quality ‘knowledge and data’ to further improve human health and quality of life.

This material is based upon research supported by the Irish Environment Protection Agency under Grant Award No 2017-HW-MS-11.

 

Pictured above (l-r): Dr Naghmeh Kamali (UCC and OHSRC) and Hannah Binner (School of BEES, UCC and OHSRC).

Binner, H., Kamali, N., Harding, M., & Sullivan, T. (2018, November) Assessment of the environmental and health impacts arising from mercury-free dental restorative materials. Poster presented at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Health Services Executive (HSE) Conference 2018, "Knowledge & Data", xxx, Ireland. OHSRC-ERI-UCC Poster HSE-EPA Conference November 2018

Oral Health Services Research Centre

University Dental School & Hospital, Wilton, Cork T12 E8YV, Ireland.

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