Photo courtesy of http://www.gov.pe.ca/environment/dental-amalgam
An environmental network for chemical safety
and zero waste has thrown its support behind the growing demand for the
country’s dental care service to go mercury-free.
expressed its unity with proponents of rapid and effective action to prevent
and reduce mercury emissions and releases from the use of dental amalgam.
“We support the phase down and ultimate phase out of amalgam use within an
expedited timeframe. This action is long overdue. Mercury pollution is avoidable and it is
outrageous that health facilities are one of the sources of this pernicious
environmental health problem,” said Von Hernandez, President, EcoWaste Coalition.
Among the groups backing the transition to mercury-free dentistry in the
country are Arugaan, Ban Toxics, Consumer Rights for Safe Food, Greenpeace,
Green Convergence, Health Care Without Harm, International
Association of Oral and Medical Toxicologists – Philippines, Kinaiyahan
Foundation, Mother Earth Foundation and the Philippine Earth Justice Center.
stakeholders’ consultation on April 7, convened by the Department of Health (DOH), to review a draft administrative order that
will set the rules and regulations for the phase down of mercury use in dental
restoration procedures.
identified as one major source of mercury pollution in the environment that is
contaminating the fish that people eat.
Experts have indicated that children under the age of six, women of
child-bearing age, pregnant women and their unborn babies are at greatest risk
for adverse health effects linked with the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish.
confirms that dental mercury in the environment is a secondary poison in the
fish and other food children eat,” added Charlie Brown, President of the World
Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry in an e-mail sent to
the EcoWaste Coalition.
the DOH for bringing all interests to
the table to discuss how and when to transition to mercury-free dentistry. The EcoWaste Coalition is exactly right: the
only effective way to protect this great archipelago
from dental mercury is to phase out dental amalgam by a certain date,” the
American lawyer said.
Dr. Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen,
President of IAOMT-Philippines stated: “With continuous dental
mercury use, the lives of patients, dental professionals, and even dentistry
students are put at risk. As dentists, we have a responsibility to campaign for
oral health and a moral obligation to champion patients’ rights to information
and access to favorable treatment. The country’s health sector has already
proven that it can go mercury-free and it is about time that the dental sector
follow suit. We will work closely with government agencies and dental
organizations to ensure that the shift to mercury-free dentistry is a smooth
one.”
Hernandez, who is also the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, explained
that amalgam waste from dental clinics enters the environment when
mercury-laced waste water is discharged into the drain, when amalgam scrap is
disposed of with other discards and then dumped, landfilled or incinerated. Mercury
is also released into the air when remains of persons with mercury fillings on
their teeth are cremated and thus vaporizing the amalgam.
The lack of clear-cut regulation for mercury-laden waste water discharge, including
effluent guidelines, the lack of pollution control devices such as amalgam
separators and the lack of promotion of best management practices are
exacerbating mercury pollution from dental facilities, the groups observed.
While welcoming the prohibition against bulk importation of mercury for dental
purposes as contained in the draft administrative order, the groups asked the
DOH to reconsider the provision allowing the importation of dental amalgam
capsules, and also requested the Commission on Higher Education and the dental
schools to expedite the curriculum for mercury-free dentistry.
The groups likewise urged the DOH to establish the necessary guidelines for dental amalgam removal for strict implementation by dentists to protect patients’ safety and their rights to exercise informed
“Everyone will be better off with mercury-free dentistry. What is needed is a robust oral health
program to prevent dental caries and diseases, complemented with the promotion
of non-hazardous teeth restorative materials that contain no mercury. If the problem is avoidable, allowing
continued use is simply irresponsible and ultimately unacceptable,” Hernandez
said.