“Research Based Advocacy for Policy Change: Ban or Restrict & Discourage Mercury Amalgam Use to Safeguard Children’s Health in Pakistan”

Abstract

Mercury is naturally occurring element in environment and humans are exposed to it through food, water and air (Labban et al., 2018). It is a very toxic substance which represents a global and major threat to human health, including in the form of methyl mercury in fish and seafood resources, ecosystems and wildlife (EU, 2017). The agency of toxic substances and disease registry (ATSDR) ranked mercury as the 3rd most toxic element (ATSDR, 2011). Mercury is used in dentistry as a filling material to fill tooth cavities caused by decay of tooth. The material is called Dental amalgam or silver filling and has been practiced since last 150 years. Silver amalgam is a mixture consisting of 50 % elemental mercury and powdered silver, tin, and copper. The reason for being used in dentistry; is its strength, durability, cost effectiveness and its properties that allow it to bind and react together to the other particle to form amalgam (FDA, 2017).