Sick of Toxic Products Susan Beck Director, The Eco-Dentistry Association™

Dental assistants and hygienists are often the decision-makers when it comes to purchasing certain dental supplies. Yet many don't realize the products they're choosing may be making them sick. Items such as instrument soaks, disinfectants, and office cleaners can be made of harsh chemicals that are toxic to breathe or touch, and also pollute our local water streams. 

Almost every dental assistant and hygienist I talk to has a story. If it didn't happen to her or him, it was their co-worker:

·         Respiratory problems

·         Skin break-outs

·          Fierce allergic reactions

·          Even life-threatening illness that may have been triggered by exposure to x-ray development chemicals or sterilizing fluids

Many harsh chemicals that are toxic to our bodies aren't gentle on the environment either. Did you know that dental office disinfectants are classified under federal law as pesticides?* Many chemicals used in dental disinfectants and cleaners can be found on the Pesticide Action Network's "PAN Bad Actor" list, a list of chemicals having at least one of these characteristics: known to be carcinogenic, a reproductive toxicant, neurotoxicant, groundwater contaminant, or high acute toxicity (meaning a short exposure can have significant impacts). These products are designed to be highly soluble in water. Once they go down the drain, many waste water treatment plants aren't equipped to remove them, and the water containing these harsh chemicals makes its way back into our ground water, rivers and oceans.

Without having to know the potential hazards of ingredients like Diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride ( an actual product ingredient in a common dental office disinfectant), how can a practitioner know if a product is safe for the team, and the community, without sacrificing patient safety?

Here are my top three choices of EDA Accepted products you can switch to today:

(1)  Optim 33TB Disinfectant by SciCan. SciCan's Optim 33TB uses hydrogen peroxide as a highly effective, fast, and non-toxic surface cleaner and disinfectant. The product has been used in neo-natal wards of hospitals and is safe for use around the tender immune systems of hospitalized babies. When it's discharged into our sewer system the ingredients break down into harmless oxygen and water. And it's equally effective as the toxic stuff at killing all pathogens of interest, like TB and MRSA. The company that manufactures Optim 33TB is a green certified Canadian company. Their packaging even helps the practice reduce waste by providing refillable containers, which cuts down on shipping, packaging, and the use of petroleum.

(2) Team Vista Line Cleaner by Hu-Friedy. Team Vista both cleans and disinfects waterlines without a lot of hassle. Many waterline cleaners have to be left in the waterlines overnight, but not too long or they can corrode equipment. They also may leave harmful silver or iodine residues that end up in our waste water. The Team Vista system avoids these problems. After the active ingredient in the Vista Tab, sodium chlorite, does its job killing microbes, it quickly turns into hydrogen and chlorides which are not harmful to the environment. The VistaClean irrigant is food grade, meaning you could eat it if you wanted to (I don't recommend it), and it presents no harm to the environment.

(3) Enzymax Earth by Hu-Friedy.  While there are many enzymatic cleaners on the market, there are few manufacturers with the level of commitment to social responsibility and the environment of Hu-Friedy. Enzymax Earth is non-toxic and phosphate-free, and the single-use packets have a dissolvable, biodegradable wrapper. What's more, the company is one of the most socially responsible in our industry. Their internal company clean-up day recycled over 1500 pounds of paper and 700 pounds of cardboard last year; they administer a free instrument recycling program for the industry that recycles three tons of metal every year; and they invest in reducing the waste and pollution from their manufacturing processes.

Getting the Doctor's Approval

You would be surprised how many doctors tell us, "I'm not sure my team will let me change disinfectants."  Many doctors aren't concerned about the brand of disinfectant or enzymatic solution used in the practice. They just want to know it works and they want to keep supply costs as low as possible. In many cases, prices for eco-friendly and toxic products are about the same.  Be sure to look at your attendance record to see if the team has a high number of absences due to respiratory infections. A simple product change that prevents absenteeism among the team can mean thousands of dollars in increased productivity for the dental practice. 

If a co-worker is responsible for purchasing supplies but isn't immediately sold on the eco-friendly choice, encourage them to read the warning labels on the products your office is using.  Labels will read GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe), CAUTION, WARNING, or DANGER, depending on the severity of the risk of the ingredients they contain, and will have specific instructions, if needed, for special handling of those materials. Consider whether your team is consistently following the recommendations for safe use of these products, like ensuring sufficient ventilation and protective clothing, when recommended.  Do a little research on your own of the ingredients in question, and then think about whether you want these chemicals to end up in the water used on your local park lawns or kids' soccer fields.

Breathe Easy.

Dental assistants and hygienists give so much to our patients, our practices and our teams. It is not necessary for you to also sacrifice your good health for the profession you love. Toxic ingredients in our disinfectants and cleaners are not a necessary evil.  Effective, eco-friendly alternatives exist, and they won't send you running for the inhaler.

Please help the Eco-Dentistry Association collect important information by taking a survey here.

Want to know more about an EDA Accepted product seal? Just go to the GreenDOC Product Guide at www.ecodentistry.org, where you will find an EDA Product Report, detailing the green standards of each product bearing the Seal.

*See the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA.
 

About Susan Beck Susan Beck is the Director of the Eco-Dentistry Association and has been integrally involved in development of green dentistry standards and best practices. She has a background in public health, integrative medicine and dental office practice management, and was the practice manager of Transcendentist, an award-winning green dental office, prior to the launch of the EDA. Susan is passionate about sharing how green dentistry benefits patients, planet and the practice bottom line. As the EDA's Director, Susan has her finger on the pulse of the green dentistry movement, serving as a resource to the profession and the industry. She has written extensively on green dentistry topics, and presents to both the public and professionals to expand awareness and practice of eco-friendly dentistry. About the Eco-Dentistry Association The EDA offers dental professionals' practical tips on incorporating eco-friendly dental methods and practices, and offers the public access to dental professionals that share their values of wellness and environmental stewardship. The EDA's members are located in 42 U.S. States and 11 countries. The organization was co-founded by Dr. Fred Pockrass, a dentist, and his entrepreneur wife, Ina Pockrass, who together created the model for eco-friendly dentistry, and operate their own award winning dental practice in Berkeley, California, the first in the country to be certified as a green business. They formed the organization to stimulate a movement in the dental industry to employ environmentally-sound practices, like reducing waste and pollution, saving energy, water and money, incorporating wellness-based methods and the best technological advances in dentistry.