Minamata Convention Agrees to End Use of Dental Amalgam by 2034

 

·         The Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-6) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury was recently held in Geneva, Switzerland.

·         During this important meeting, member countries agreed to phase out the use of dental amalgam by 2034.

o   Dental amalgam is a traditional tooth-filling material made from a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, tin, and copper.

o   Mercury helps bind these metals together to make the filling durable — but it also poses serious health and environmental risks.

·         This global decision aims to reduce mercury pollution and protect both human health and the environment.

·         Additionally, the conference resolved to eliminate mercury-added skin-lightening products, which are harmful cosmetic items that can cause skin damage, kidney problems, and neurological issues.

 

What Is Mercury and Why Is It Harmful?

·         Mercury (chemical symbol: Hg) is a naturally occurring heavy metal and a silvery-white element found in the Earth’s crust.
It is unique because it is the only common metal that remains liquid at room temperature — which is why it was once used in thermometers.

·         Some key properties of mercury include:

o   Atomic number: 80

o   Good conductor of heat and electricity

o   Ductile (can be stretched into wires) and malleable (can be hammered into thin sheets)

However, despite its interesting properties, mercury is highly toxic to living organisms.

 

Where Does Mercury Come From?

Mercury is released into the environment from both natural and human-made (anthropogenic) sources.

1.       Natural sources include:

• Volcanic eruptions
• Emissions from oceans and soils

2.       Human-made sources include:

• Mining, especially gold mining, where mercury is used to extract gold from ore
• Burning fossil fuels such as coal
• Industrial processes, including metal smelting and cement production

These activities release mercury vapors into the air, which eventually settle on land or water, causing widespread contamination.

How Has Mercury Been Used Historically?

·         In the past, mercury was used in a variety of products and tools, such as:

o   Thermometers and barometers for measuring temperature and air pressure

o   Fluorescent lights and certain types of batteries

o   Dental amalgams for filling cavities

·         Although many of these uses have now been phased out due to mercury’s toxicity, dental amalgam has remained common — especially in developing countries — because it is cheap and durable.

The Minamata COP-6 decision aims to change that by encouraging a complete global phase-out by 2034.

 

Why Is Mercury Dangerous to Health and the Environment?

·         Once released into the environment, mercury undergoes chemical transformations.

·         In water bodies, certain microorganisms convert mercury into methylmercury — a highly toxic organic form.

·         This methylmercury accumulates in fish and shellfish, and then passes up the food chain when humans or animals consume them — a process called bioaccumulation.

·         Even small amounts of mercury exposure can cause severe harm.
It can damage the:

o   Nervous system (causing tremors, memory loss, and coordination issues)

o   Kidneys

o   Skin and eyes

o   Digestive and immune systems

·         Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to mercury poisoning.

What Is the Minamata Convention on Mercury?

·         The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global, legally binding treaty that seeks to protect human health and the environment from mercury’s harmful effects.

·         It was adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017.

·         The convention is named after Minamata Bay in Japan, the site of one of the world’s worst mercury pollution disasters.

The Minamata Tragedy:

·         In the mid-20th century, a Japanese factory discharged mercury waste into Minamata Bay.
Local residents who ate contaminated fish developed severe neurological and developmental disorders, a condition later called “Minamata Disease.”

·         This tragedy became a turning point in global environmental awareness and led to the creation of the Minamata Convention.

·         Today, the convention has 153 member countries (Parties), including India.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as its Secretariat, helping countries implement, monitor, and enforce the treaty.

 

Why Is the COP-6 Decision So Significant?

·         The decision at COP-6 to eliminate dental amalgam by 2034 represents a major global step toward a mercury-free world.

·         It aligns with broader global efforts to:

o   Protect public health from toxic exposure

o   Prevent environmental contamination of soil, water, and food chains

o   Encourage safer alternatives for dental care and cosmetic products

·         By strengthening commitments to phase out mercury-added products, COP-6 reinforces the core mission of the Minamata Convention — to reduce and eventually eliminate mercury pollution worldwide.