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Use of mercury to be phased out in hospitals

2016-06-28
ISLAMABAD: A first ever consultative meeting of stakeholders to gradually phase out the use of mercury amalgam in dental clinics and hospitals, organized by ministry of climate change on Monday.

The meeting was aimed to chalk out necessary measures to gradually phase out (starting with pregnant women and children in the first phase) the use of mercury amalgam in dental clinics and hospitals throughout the country.

The meeting was chaired by joint secretary ministry of climate change Iftikharul Hassan Shah Gilani and participated by representatives of ministry of health and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

It was agreed upon in the meeting that the mercury base dental amalgam fillings will soon be phased out.

SDPPs Senior Adviser on Sustainable Industrial Development, Chemicals and Hazardous Wastes, Dr MahmoodAKhwajainformed the stakeholders about the dire consequences of use of mercury on human health.

`Children under the age of 12 and pregnant women are more vulnerable to mercury exposure and hence must be the first one to safeguard their health,` he said Dr Khwaja proposed gradual phase out of use of mercury amalgam by first banning mercury filling for pregnant women and childrenunderthe age of12.

Experts stressed for a national strategy to phase out the use of mercury and to introduce economical and environment friendly alternatives in dentistry. A Reporter