It is apparent that many of the countries in the world are much more aware of the dangers of mercury than is the United States.

Germany: At the present time Germany is more progressive than any other country on the dental mercury issue. They have banned one type of amalgam from further use in Germany; they have issued warnings that amalgam should not be placed in children and women of child bearing age. The biggest amalgam manufacturer in Germany, a company by the name of Degussa arbitrarily stopped the manufacture of amalgam and recently settled, out of court, a law suit against it, by agreeing to provide 1,200,000 DM to the University of Munich for research into the pathological effects of amalgam. Additionally, approximately 1500 citizens have filed "civil complaints" against amalgam manufacturers for injury. It is our understanding that the Frankfurt Prosecutor believes there is sufficient substance to the claims that he is proceeding with a case against amalgam manufacturers.

Sweden: Sweden was at the forefront of scientific research on dental mercury for many years. Its civilian population has been very active, including the Swedish Patient Organization (has over 25,000 members who have been damaged by dental mercury or who support the efforts to stop its use as a dental material). As a consequence of civilian pressures on the government, a plan was formulated to phase out the use of amalgam totally by the end of January 1997. At the present time there is a ban on the use of amalgam in anyone under the age of 19. Some counties in Sweden have already stopped completely the use of amalgam in dentistry. Many of Swedens concerns were related also to the environmental impact of mercury effluent and scrap amalgam disposal from dental offices. The entire process has been vigoursly fought against by the Swedish Dental Association, who like the American Dental Association maintains that amalgam is safe.

Canada: Canada is about to announce a new policy on the use of mercury/amalgam within that country. The agency within the Canadian government responsible for such policy is Health Canada (similar to our FDA), and in 1994 they directed one of their staff members, Dr. Mark Richardson, Ph.D., to do a "Risk Assement Analysis" of dental amalgam. Dr. Richardson's report clearly indicated a health risk for continued use of amalgam as a dental material and basically recommended that the numbers of amalgam dental fillings be limited to no more than four (4) in adults and only one (1) in children up to the age of 6. The Canadian Dental Association was extremely agressive in attempting to attack the credibility of Dr. Richardson himself, and the conclusions of the report. They enlisted the aid of the ADA as well as representatives from several countries. Many anti-amalgam civilian activist groups as well as the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, were also involved in the review process. As a result of the Canadian Dental Association's (CDA's) unethical tactics, all of these groups sent letters of protest and resignation from the review process. The reporting of these actions in the Canadian media caused great embarrassment for Health Canada. The Director of Health Canada, sent a letter to the President of the CDA admonishing him and the organization for their tactics and conduct. The Director is now getting ready to announce Health Canadas decision and we are all hopeful that he will not buckle to the intense lobbying and political pressures being brought to bear by organized dentistry, but will instead opt to protect the Canadian citizens. The fact that since 1985, most of the major research on the potential dangers of amalgam as a dental material have been performed at the University of Calgary Medical School, one of the premier medical institutions in the world, makes Health Canadas decision extremely critical.

Austria: At the present time it is the intention of Austria to completely stop the use of amalgam in dentistry by the year 2000.

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire