Vol. 471 No. 2
88 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the adverse scientifically proven facts regarding mercury and dental amalgam; the plans, if any, there are to restrict the continual use of dental amalgam in fillings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20536/96]
Limerick East): Dental amalgam has been used as a dental filling material for 150 years. Although minute amounts of mercury vapour are released from dental amalgam, current evidence does not indicate that dental amalgam is causing illness in the general population.
However, as a general principle, it is advisable to reduce human exposure to mercury and other heavy metals in our environment. I have, therefore, instructed my Department to request the dental council to review amalgam safety and to issue appropriate guidelines to dental practitioners. I have also instructed my Department to request the Environmental Protection Agency to advise the dental profession about the safe disposal of waste that contains heavy metals.
