Toward mercury-free dentistry

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry International

INC 7 group photo cropped

Dental amalgam is a tooth filling material that is approximately 50% mercury, a highly polluting neurotoxin.  Today, countries around the world are phasing out the use of amalgam … and phasing up the use of mercury-free alternatives.

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry is pleased to work with governments and organizations to phase down amalgam use in every region. Learn about progress toward mercury-free dentistry in the posts below.  If you need assistance in your region, please contact us.

First Arab Network for Mercury-Free Dentistry launched in Cairo

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Africa

Egyptian capital Cairo witnessed the launch of the first network of civil society organizations in the Arab countries to prevent the use of mercury dental fillings, known as “amalgam”, in treating the teeth of children under 15 years of age, and pregnant and lactating women, due to what these fillings contain, which contain a large amount of mercury, a risk to public health and the environment.

The launch of this network came at the end of the workshop, which was organized by the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, in coordination with the Arab Network for Environment and Development (“RAED”), and lasted for two days, with the participation of representatives of civil society organizations from Arab countries, both coordinators of RAED or others, in addition to a number of experts and dentists from Arab countries and others.

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Island States Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry established

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry International
Hemsing Hurrynag

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry announces the creation of Island States Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, to be based in Port Louis, Mauritius.  This new and powerful voice for the island states of the world will be led by experienced NGO leader Hemsing Hurrynag. 

The Island States Alliance will also have two satellite offices: in Suva, Fiji, for the Pacific campaign for mercury-free dentistry, directed by experienced NGO leader Emele Duituturaga; and on Kingston, Jamaica, for the Caribbean campaign, directed by Sherika  Whitelocke-Ballingsingh of the Poison Information Network of the Caribbean.

Mr. Hurrynag, in addition to being leader of the worldwide campaign, will direct the Indian Ocean campaign in the Indian Ocean.  

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Ram Charitra Sah wins “First in Asia” Award

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Asia

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry proudly announces its “First in Asia” Award to Ram Charitra Sah of Kathmandu, head of the very vibrant and effective NGO Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) Nepal.  The award was presented by Siddika Sultana, Vice-President of World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry and Executive Director ESDO Bangladesh.

Nepal is the first country in all of Asia to achieve mercury-free dentistry!  The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, based in Washington with projects in 50 countries, provides this unique award that recognizes both the NGO leader who made it happen and the nation who came first.

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Experts concerned that children of color and low-income children still receive unsafe mercury fillings

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Americas

Experts continue to express concern that many children of color and low-income children are still receiving mercury fillings despite the risks.  In their Health Affairs article “Children of Color and Low-Income Kids Still Receive Unsafe Mercury-Based Dental Fillings”, Dr. Rueben C. Warren, DDS, MPH, DrPH, MDiv of Tuskegee University and Dr. Mark Mitchell,MD, MPH, FACPM of George Mason University observe that…

“The data on the extent of amalgam use in the US are sparse and out of date, but in our experience as dental and medical professionals, we’ve seen that Black, Latino, Native American, and low-income kids are much more likely to get mercury-based amalgam fillings than their more affluent non-Hispanic White counterparts.”

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Arab Center for Environmental Health launches

World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Africa, Asia
Ziyad Alalawneh

With the goal of serving all Arab nations across West Asia and North Africa, the Arab Center for Environmental Health has launched today from its headquarters in Amman.  The announcement was jointly made at a ceremony on 7 July by the Secretary General of the Jordan Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Khashashneh, and by the Center’s founding director, the experienced NGO leader Ziyad Alalawneh, leader of the NGO Land and Human to Advocate Progress. 

Dedicating the Arab Center for Environmental Health, Secretary General Khashashneh, a world-renowned leader in writing and implementing environmental treaties, said, “We are honored that the Center is headquartered here in Amman, and we look forward to bringing together Jordan and other Arab governments, international bodies, civil society, and universities to build a toxic-free society for future generations.”

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