World Health Organization explores world-wide Amalgam Filling Ban

The World Health Organization (WHO)  had a committee meet to discuss possible new guidelines for the global use of dental fillings.

The November 16-17 meeting was sponsored by the United Nations, and anti-silver/amalgam activists see this as a first step in an eventual ban on dental amalgam in dental care.

The WHO statement included a 'phase down' of dental mercury use worldwide".

Mercury Policy Project comments:

"We strongly urge the WHO to foster the innovative use of mercury-free fillings in parallel with its commendable goal of bringing affordable dental healthcare to the global population," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project. "This is entirely consistent with the vast number of similar initiatives going on worldwide to phase out the use of mercury in products and processes."

Dr. Russell, Yellow Springs Dentist, downloaded the Mercury Policy Project letter:

The Anti-Amalgam letter was crafted by over 70 non-governmental orgainizations, world wide

To:
Dr. Poul Erik Petersen
Oral Health Programme, Health Promotion
Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion
World Health Organization
20, Avenue Appia-CH-1211
Geneva 27 Switzerland

Dear Dr. Petersen,
We are writing with respect to the upcoming WHO Meeting on the Future Use of
Materials for Dental Restoration, 16 to 17 November 2009, and specifically in relation to any
subsequent meeting report or recommendations thereafter.

We would kindly like to remind and invite the WHO colleagues and meeting
attendees to carefully consider the health and/or environmental risks resulting from
continuing use and subsequent release of dental mercury.

Furthermore, we would also strongly urge WHO to take a progressive and pro-active position with regard to the innovative use of mercury-free alternatives in parallel with WHO’s commendable goal of
bringing affordable dental healthcare to a much wider part of the global population. This is
entirely consistent with the vast number of similar initiatives going on worldwide to phase out
the use of mercury in products and processes.

As you explained in your 22 October 2009 correspondence regarding the purpose of
the meeting: in February 2009, the world governments reached consensus on the need for a
global legally binding treaty in order to significantly reduce mercury exposure worldwide:

Click here to download and read the rest of the letter.