The report from the conference “Dental Sector as a Source of Mercury Contamination” held in Brussels on 25 May 2007 is now available (pdf. Organized by the European Environment Bureau, the Health & Environment Alliance and the Zero Mercury Working Group, the conference aimed to discuss the environmental impacts and health effects of dental amalgam use, and future policy options. Invited speakers included: the European Commission, the Danish Environment Protection Agency, the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI), the Council of European Dentists (CED), the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, Occupational health experts, Researchers, Patients ‘ groups and NGO representatives. A key finding of the debate was that mercury use in dental amalgams can indeed be decreased or phased out in the coming years, since adequate alternatives are already available and research could provide for a wider range of even better performing materials.

Mercury in products including dental amalgams has already been banned in Norway and Sweden, and a similar ban will soon be introduced in Denmark.