In 2007 an international group of scientists, medical doctors and dentists made a request to the EU and the WHO to implement an immediate worldwide ban on the use of mercury in dental fillings. Norway responded promptly. Sweden followed soon. In Denmark the use of the neurotoxic metal as an ingredients in dental fillings is being phased out - however without a ban. But worldwide dental amalgam is still being used extensively      

“WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, THAT NUMEROUS HEALTH DISTURBANCES AS WELL AS INFLAMMATORY CHRONIC, DEGENERATIVE AND OFTEN SERIOUS CHRONIC ILLNESSES CAN BE GENERATED BY MERCURY, IT OUGHT TO LEAD TO POLITICAL ACTION, AND IN THAT CONNECTION, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, THAT SCIENTIFIC TRIALS GIVE MORE AND MORE PROOF FOR A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE USE OF MERCURY IN DENTAL AMALGAM AS WELL AS OTHER DENTAL HEAVY METALS AND OFTEN OCCURING DISEASES” i says the Luxembourg Appeal: 

By Ulla Danielsen

2OO7: In order to urge the political decisionmakers, who possess the power to effect an international ban on the use of dental amalgam, an international conference took place in Luxembourg on November 10, 2007. 

The meeting finished with a request to politicians in the EU as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the national health authorities in Europe. 

Those who are politically responsible should seriously take note of the increasing amount of warnings appearing concerning mercury – and as a consequence hereof – immediately ban the use of mercury in dental materials, said the appeal from Luxembourg. 

Among the many arguments for the necessity of an immediate international ban, the participants in the conference pointed out: 

That their starting point is the incontestable fact scientifically proven of  toxicity of mercury and the health -  and environmentally damaging potential of the substance. This also in combination with other metals. 

The participants in Luxembourg further recognize the endeavours in the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) as well as in the report from the EU-Commission to the Council and The European Parliament concerning their common strategy for mercury. 

The participants in Luxembourg recognize the resolution of the European Parliament for a common strategy for mercury with its expressed doubts and reservations towards the use of mercury in dental amalgams. 

The participants in the international meeting also points out, that both European and international platforms, independent researchers, medical doctors specialized in environmental medicine, critical medical doctors and dentists as well as NGO’s and groups of patients now repeatedly have warned urgently concerning the continued use of mercury, particularly in dental medicine. 

The advocates of a ban, assembled in Luxembourg, take into consideration, that those warnings among other things is founded on the principle of caution and a preventive policy for health and environment. 

Simultaneously the signatories of the appeal take into consideration, that there is scientific proof of mercury from dental amalgams in many cases incontestable leading to an increase in countless health disturbances and chronic illnesses.

The desirable in a ban is further supported by the fact, that dental amalgam is not an alloy, but simply a compound, for what reason a continuous release of mercury and other metals is taking place, it is expressed in the appeal. 

The assembly in Luxembourg further point out, that the need for a ban is supported by the fact, that experiments on cells and animals as well as autopsies of dead people give strong evidence of accumulation of mercury in human cells, tissues and organs. 

According to the appeal to the politicians to act, it further has to be taken into consideration, that mercury vapour released from dental amalgams accumulate in cells and tissues. 

The assembly also argument in their consensus-paper, that it is a fact, that the direct accumulation of mercury vapour from dental amalgam  is the first addition together with additions from other sources to mercury such as the animal and human food chain: 

When it is taken into consideration, that accumulated mercury is able to cause chronic illnesses dependent on dosis, duration of contact, individual sensibility and the genetically dependent or acquired state of detoxication mechanisms, then an immediate ban must be accomplished, the assembly underlined. 

The participant also direct the attention of the public to the fact, that mercury in dental amalgams in the industrialised countries represent the second greatest mercury burden for the environment and accordingly for human nutrition. 

Finally the writers of the Luxembourg Appeal point out, that the potential for physical damages following exposure for mercury is well known: 

This counts particularly for toxicity for cells and toxic damages to cell membranes, the nerve toxicity, adaptation to the immune systeme and immune toxicity, change in endocrine patterns, reduced fertility and the risk for damages to human embryos. 

When you take into consideration, that numerous health disturbances as well as inflammatory, chronic, degenerative and often serious chronic illnesses can be generated by mercury, it ought to lead to political action, and in that connection, it should be taken into consideration, that scientific trials give more and more proof of a connection between the use of mercury in amalgams as well as other dental heavy metals and often occurring diseases, it is said. 

Summarising their many reasons to wish for an immediate ban, the assembly conclude, that mercury from dental amalgam exposes numerous human beings for irresponsible health risks, and that developing life in utero is particularly at risk. 

The participants in Luxembourg were invited by Action Group for Environmental Toxins (AKUT asbl) in Luxembourg and the European Academy for Environmental Medicine (EUROPAEM).  

AKUT is a Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation informing about environmental toxins. 

The meeting took place under the protection of the minister of health in Luxembourg, Mars di Bartolomeo, who opened the conference.

Among the participants were recognized scientists, researchers, doctors specialised in environmental medicine, medical doctors, dentists, as well as politicians, NGO’s and groups of patients. 

At the end of the international meeting the assembly published in unison the Luxembourg Appeal, which addresses The European Commission, The European Parlament and all national health authorities inside and outside Europe with a request to ban mercury in dental amalgam. 

When issued to the press the Luxembourg Appeal was signed by its main architects who are Jean Huss, AKUT asbl, LUXEMBOURG, Dr. Kurt E. Müller, European Academy for Environmental Medicine e. V., GERMANY, Marie Grosman, Prof.agrégée de biologie, Association Non au mercure dentaire, FRANCE, Prof. Boyd E. Haley, Professor of Chemistry-Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA, Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxikology, UNITED KINGDOM, Dr. Joachim Mutter, Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology at the University Medical Center, Freiburg, GERMANY, Prof. André Picot, Directeur honoraire de Recherche CNRS Président de l’Assosication de Toxicologie – Chimie ATC, Paris, FRANCE. Prof Vera Stejskal, Associate Professor at University of Stockholm and First Faculty, Charles University Prague; Danderyd, SWEDEN.