HEALTH stakeholders in the country have urged dentists across East Africa to stop using mercury dental fillings, also known as dental amalgam.
The call was made as part of the annual celebration of Africa Week for Mercury Free Dentistry, which this year is celebrated from December 9 to 14.
Stakeholders say dental amalgam or “silver fillings” contain fifty percent mercury, which is harmful to health and the environment. Exposure to mercury can lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, stomatitis, gingivitis, excessive salivation and diarrhea.
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dorah Swai, executive secretary of the Agenda for Environment and Responsible Development (AGENDA), explained that the week traditionally takes place in October, but was postponed this year to accommodate additional NGOs participating in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastics Treaty in Busan, South Korea.
This year’s theme, “Minamata Convention Member States on Mercury Must Meet Treaty Requirements,” emphasizes the need for countries to align with the treaty’s limitations. A key aspect of the treaty prohibits the use of dental amalgam on children under 15, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The Minamata Convention, which aims to eliminate the use of mercury, mandates member states to phase out dental amalgam because of its harmful effects on both health and the environment.
Dental amalgam contains 50 percent mercury, which can adversely affect a child’s developing brain, even during pregnancy. Mercury can be passed from mother to child during both pregnancy and breastfeeding, leading to impaired mental development and lower IQ levels that can hinder the child’s future economic prospects.
In addition, mercury is persistent in the environment, accumulating in creatures such as fish, which, when consumed by humans, further expose them to mercury.
Silvani Mng’anya, principal program officer at AGENDA, emphasized the importance of adopting mercury-free alternatives, stressing that many such materials are already available. He called on East African countries to follow the example of Tanzania, which banned the use of dental amalgam in 2022 for all age groups.
“We urge other EAC states to switch to mercury-free dental fillings to protect the health of children, pregnant women and nursing mothers,” said Mng’anya.
Bernard Kihiyo, Tanzania Director of Consumer Protection and Research (TCAR), echoed the call, urging EAC states to protect the health and future of their children by adopting mercury-free alternatives. “In this way, we ensure that children receive their right to a healthy future, which will also benefit their countries,” Kihiyo added.
The Minamata Convention, named after the Japanese city of Minamata, was adopted in 2013 to limit global exposure to mercury from various sources. As of December 2024, 151 countries have ratified the convention, an important step toward protecting both human health and the environment from mercury contamination.
