Protect our children by implementing the Children’s Amendment to the Minamata Convention, SEDI calls on Nigeria government

By Isaac Eranga 

Knowing the need to protect the most vulnerable population groups from amalgam, and the agreement of Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, to accelerate the phase down of dental amalgam use, Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has called on Nigeria government to implement the Children’s Amendment to the Minamata Convention, which calls for the phase-out of dental amalgam for dental treatment of deciduous teeth, patients under 15 years and pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

This call was made by the Executive Director of SEDI- Dr. Tom Aneni  while answering questions from the SOCIAL REPORTERS NEWS SERVICE in Benin city. 

According to Dr. Aneni, dental amalgam contains 45-55% mercury which is disastrous to the environment, harmful to dental workers, and a health risk to dental patients, especially children and young women, and has been proven to be toxic to tissues and organs in humans. He said Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can damage children’s developing brains and neurological systems even before they are born.

“Dental amalgam’s mercury poisons fish which children eat, causing brain damage to some of them. It is horrible for them. We must switch to the alternative dental materials—which are non-polluting and tooth friendly.”

"The world now recognizes dental amalgam as a major environmental pollutant due to concerns about mercury-related health risks. It pollutes the air, water and land with potential to adversely affect agriculture and wildlife. Findings have indicated that mercury vapor is released during the insertion, condensation, carving, and removal of amalgam restorations. Then, any dental clinic that continues to use dental amalgam will expose patients/accompanying family members/friends and dental staff to mercury vapour. The European Parliament recently (2024) voted overwhelmingly (98%) to ban the use of dental amalgam by 1 January 2025.  This law will also ban amalgam manufacture, import, and export". 

"We therefore use this medium to join all key stakeholders in the fight against use of dental amalgam to call on all Nigeria government to end amalgam use by 30th June, 2026, and to ban amalgam imports from dental product manufacturers and non-European Western governments by 31st December, 2025.  We also urge the government to issue a public health advisory to all  dentists, dental training institutions and the public to discontinue the use of dental amalgam in children and other vulnerable populations in order to protect public health and comply with the decisions reached at COP 4.2 of the Minamata convention on mercury to which Nigeria is a signatory. 

"We also urge Nigeria government to initiate as a matter of national urgency the process of legislation to restrict the import, use and distribution of dental amalgam in Nigeria.

“The Minamata Convention on Mercury, since 2023, bans amalgam for children and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The law must be enforced by our government—and dentists must obey it.”

"Environmental pollution is responsible for human disease in 25% of the population worldwide; but in Sub-Saharan Africa the percentage is higher at 35%. Any clinic that continues to use dental amalgam is not practicing evidence-based 21st century dentistry, which prioritizes minimally-invasive intervention such as use of mercury-free fillings that can preserve more tooth structure. 

"Despite the  ongoing concerns regarding the potential toxicity of mercury and the successful model campaigns to implement the transition to mercury-free dentistry and to demonstrate feasibility and advantages of alternatives to amalgam have been executed in Edo State, Nigeria; Enugu State, Nigeria; Odisha State, India; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province; Pakistan; Ben Arrous Region, Tunisia; and Mombassa County, Kenya, many dental institutions continue to maintain amalgam as the material of choice for undergraduate simulation laboratory and clinical dental training of dental students", said Dr. Tom Aneni. 

Also speaking,  President of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry- Dr. Charlie Brown, said Mercury is the most vapourous of the heavy metals, and those vapors toxify the dental ofce. It is too big a risk for young women dental workers. Dental clinics should become mercury-free, now.

“The alternatives to amalgam are now technically superior to amalgam. Amalgam is a tooth unfriendly historical relic from the 19th century.

"Manufacturers are exiting making amalgam—they know they have legal risks. The amalgam supply is running out.”

“Our dental school needs to be mercury-free. Alternatives are effective and available. Mercury-free dentistry is 21st century dentistry", said Dr. Charlie Brown.