TO: NGO groups – health and environmental
Letter from Aussie to federal ministers: The Federal Government is
blocking global efforts to gain a treaty on mercury that will include the
phasing out of dental amalgam. We need to send out a message to
Canberra that Australian children are more important than the special
interests, and that we need to phase mercury out of the world’s
environment.
Would you endorse this letter to the Federal Government?
As a matter of urgency, we are calling for endorsements from organisations: local or
national, community or environmental, health, parent, or relevant other groups.
If your organisation wishes to endorse the following letter, please email your consent and
contact info to Dr Lisa Matriste of Victoria, Director, Australia chapter, World Alliance for
Mercury-Free Dentistry; and Charlie Brown, its international president.
info@mercuryfreedentistry.com.au; charlie@toxicteeth.org
Also, would you please forward this letter to colleagues and ask that they endorse it?
THANK YOU.
World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry
U.S. Affiliate: Consumers for Dental Choice, www.toxicteeth.org
316 F St. NE, Suite 210, Washington DC 20002 USA
Ph: (1) 202-544-6333 Fax: (1) 202-544-6331
Australian Chapter: Australians for Mercury Free Dentistry
131 Commercial Rd, South Yarra, Vic. 3141.
Ph: (03) 9939 9932 Fax: (03) 9078 0397 Em: info@mercuryfreedentistry.com.au
www.mercuryfreedentistry.com.au + www.facebook.com/MercuryFree
[date]
The Hon. Tony Burke, MP. Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and
Communities
The RT Hon. Kevin Rudd, MP. Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon. Nicola Roxon, MP. Minister for Health and Ageing
Copy to:
The Hon. Julia Gillard MP. Prime Minister
The Hon. Julie Bishop MP. Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon. Greg Hunt MP. Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage.
The Hon. Peter Dutton MP. Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing
Senator Bob Brown. Leader of the Australian Greens + other Green Senators
Dear Ministers,
We - environmental, medical, consumer and community organisations - petition the Federal
Government to withdraw its objection to a world treaty provision that calls for the phase-out
of dental amalgam, a mercury product now being addressed under the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
The world is negotiating this environmental treaty to end the scourge of mercury, a virulent
neurotoxin that is a particular risk to the developing brains of children and the unborn. The
process is midway through; the third of five sessions will convene in Nairobi on 30 October
2011. The treaty addresses mining, waste, industrial use, illegal use, and, most relevant here,
products containing mercury.
The UNEP states that amalgam is one of the five major mercury polluting products. Hence,
the treaty draft, in Annex C, would phase out all five. Our government is asking for a specialinterest exemption for amalgam, the only one of the five mercury products directly implanted
into the teeth of children. We are embarrassed to add that our government is the only nation –
out of more than one hundred - asking UNEP for this treaty exemption.
Dental amalgam has no role in modern dentistry. It is a primitive, polluting product,
containing 50% mercury, almost twice as old as our Commonwealth. It requires removal of
substantial tooth matter, weakening the tooth. Safer substitutes of comparable or lower price
are available for any size or kind of cavity. To their credit, half of Australia’s dentists have
ceased using amalgam, so the other half could also if they so chose.
The Government’s last-ditch support for amalgam is even more puzzling considering the 1999
review of the National Health & Medical Research Council, which recommended amalgam
not be used in children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, and people with kidney
impairments, due to the mercury exposure. (See:
www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/d18.pdf). This position was
confirmed in 2002, when the Government issued brochures suggesting to parents, young
women, and those with kidney disorders that they request alternatives for their children and
themselves.
Dental amalgam has a particular insidious use in developing nations. Its mercury is the major
source for illegal gold mining, creating profits for the black market profiteers – and causing
horrendous suffering among the rural poor in developing nations. Children are often used as
labour, placing them at high risk of mercury poisoning. The gold mining diversion is a major
reason why African nations have asked that amalgam be phased out.
By protecting amalgam rather than sensibly phasing it out, the Australian government is
pitting itself against the United States, the Council of Europe, the African continent, the Arab
League, and Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, like Tuvalu and
Mauritius. Tuvalu’s delegate noted that no place exists in the Small Island Developing States
to store amalgam – and dumping it into the ocean would poison the fish, the main dietary
protein source.
We recognise logistical issues exist, but here we are talking about goals. With the entire
world going one way – phasing out all major mercury products – why is our government
alone asking for an exemption for this major use? The government’s position is flawed and
illogical because:
It is protecting an economic interest instead of protecting people.
It is anti-environmental.
It is punitive to developing nations.
It endorses two-tiered dentistry in Australia – choice for the wealthy, mercury for the poor – a
surprising stance for a Labor government
It is contrary to the position taken by the National Health & Medical Research Council for the
past twelve years.
It harms the international image of Australia.
Because UNEP operates by consensus on treaties, one nation’s objections could torpedo the
entire global effort to phase out dental mercury. We call on you to notify the UNEP that you
withdraw your objection to amalgam being listed as an Annex C product to be phased out.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[To be added: list of names of individuals, qualifications, and NGO organisations, with
location details.]
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