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ADA's Nightmare - Norway Ban Gains Media Attention


05/01/2008

ADA's nightmare - Norway Ban gains media attention. See ADA's alert to members. http://www.smartmoney.com/news/pr/index.cfm?story=pr-20080103-000640-0813 Smart Money Dental Mercury Use Banned in Norway, Sweden and Denmark Because Composites Are Adequate Replacements OSLO, Norway , Jan. 3 /PNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Norway recently announced a ban on the use of mercury, including dental amalgam, that took effect on January 1, 2008. Sweden announced a similar ban and dentists in Denmark will no longer be allowed to use mercury in fillings after April 1, 2008. "These bans clearly indicate that amalgam is no longer needed. There are viable non-mercury filling substitutes that are used everyday in the US," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. "By eliminating amalgam use, which is 50% mercury, we can reduce mercury pollution much more efficiently than end-of-the-pipeline solutions." In a prepared statement, Norwegian Minister of the Environment Erik Solheim said that the reason for the ban is the risk that mercury from products may constitute in the environment. "Mercury is among the most dangerous environmental toxins. Satisfactory alternatives to mercury in products are available, and it is therefore fitting to introduce a ban," said Solheim. The Swedish amalgam ban is for both environmental and health issues, according to authorities. Danish officials indicate that the reason for banning amalgam is also because composites have become better, and may now be used in many more situations than a few years ago. Teeth will have to be mended with e.g. plastic or ceramics. Exceptions to use amalgam may be granted for a certain period after the ban, if dentists apply for it. "Composite fillings have now become so strong that the Danish National Board of Health says that we can expand the ban to also include amalgam fillings," said the (Danish) Minister of Health Jakob Axel Nielsen to "TV Avisen". Authorities note that when the ban takes effect in Denmark in four months time, the present subsidy for amalgam will be changed so that it will instead cover dental fillings of composite material. Since the health insurance stopped paying for amalgam restorations in Sweden in 1999, the use has decreased markedly and is now estimated to be 2-5% of all fillings. More information: http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=667004 Norwegian Ministry of the Environment Deputy Director General Anne Beate Tangen Email: anne.beate.tangen@md.dep.no Phone: +47 2224 6033 Fax: +47 2224 9563 Norwegian press release: http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/md/Press-Centre/Press-releases/2007/Bans-mercury-in-products.html?id=495138 Norwegian Mercury Ban Regulation: http://www.regjeringen.no/Upload/MD/Vedlegg/Forskrifter/product_regulation_amendment_071214.pdf Danish Television link: http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-9868029.html Danish Radio link: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2007/12/31/174314.htm?nyheder Swedish links: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=147&a=728814 http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_724369.svd http://metro.se/se/article/tt/2007/12/29/kvicksilverstopp/index.xml Also see: www.mercurypolicy.org SOURCE Mercury Policy Project /CONTACT: Michael Bender of Mercury Policy Project, +1-802-223-9000 /Web site: http://www.mercurypolicy.org (END)

DISCLAIMER.


The information on this website is not intended to, and does not, in anyway, constitute medical advice. The material is provided for information purposes only. It is based upon the Authors’ personal experiences. Please consult your qualified medical professional. Anyone considering removal of their amalgam fillings should be aware that the process is DANGEROUS as it releases highly toxic mercury vapour. It should only be undertaken by an experienced mercury-free dentist using full IAOMT protocols in order to minimise the risk of exposure to mercury.