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Now officially no amalgam for children and pregnant women
In the past decades, millions of people in Europe have had their teeth filled with amalgam fillings. However, since it is known that this material can damage health, it has often been abandoned. In the EU, there will be amalgam for children and pregnant women in the future only in special cases.
Dental fillings with amalgam
For decades, holes in the teeth were filled with amalgam. But then there was evidence that this material could damage your health. Since then, patients have wondered what to do with their amalgam fillings. Sometimes it is advised - especially with a known amalgam allergy - to replace the filling. However, there are also professionals who think they can stay in the mouth, because it is scientifically not clearly proven whether, or how much this material burdened the health. However, the use of amalgam will be reduced in the future.
The European Union wants to significantly reduce dental fillings with amalgam because of the toxic mercury. In the future, children and pregnant and nursing women should only receive amalgam in exceptional cases. (Image: sivivolk / fotolia.com) For children and pregnant and breastfeeding women only in exceptional cases
According to a report by the news agency dpa, the European Union wants to push back the millionfold used tooth filling because of the toxic mercury in amalgam. According to the information, the dentists in children and pregnant and lactating women from 1 July 2018 to use only in absolute exceptions. This was confirmed by the European Commission.
Although a ban is now off the table, but by 2020, it is examined whether dentists from 2030 can completely do without it. As the message says, the compromise between the EU Parliament, the Member States and the Commission is part of a package to implement the so-called Minamata Convention, which aims to curb the use of mercury.
Health hazards due to mercury
Amalgam, a cheap and for decades common filler for holes in the teeth is particularly in the field of vision. This means that up to 75 tonnes of highly toxic mercury circulate annually in the EU.
The potential health hazards of the heavy metal are known. Among other things, poisoning with mercury can lead to kidney, liver and nerve damage in adults. In addition, the toxic heavy metal is suspected to increase the risk of heart attack and Alzheimer's disease. An increased cancer risk from mercury is also assumed.
Mercury is one of the ten most dangerous environmental toxins listed in the poison report of the Swiss environmental organization Green Cross and the organization Pure Earth from New York. "In October 2013, 140 states signed the Minamata Convention (Mercury Convention) to curb emissions of heavy metal mercury," it said in a statement.
Reduction of use
According to dpa, the EU Commission considers the amalgam fillings harmless for patients, especially since they are encapsulated in the mouth, but critics repeatedly raise doubts. In particular, they refer to health risks associated with the processing and disposal and incineration of deceased persons in crematoria. The heavy metal can enter the food chain via the atmosphere and ultimately accumulate in the body.
"The EU now has a clear roadmap to reduce and possibly even stop tooth amalgam," said a Commission spokeswoman. According to the information, on January 1, 2019, a separate collection and safe disposal of mercury-containing waste from dental surgeries is required. Action plans to reduce use of the 28 EU countries are to be drawn up. (Ad)