The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia has intensified efforts to phase out mercury-containing dental fillings, bringing together health and environmental policymakers in Bangkok to accelerate the transition to safer, mercury-free oral healthcare.
The two-day regional workshop follows the 2025 decision under the Minamata Convention on Mercury to completely phase out dental amalgam by 2034, replacing the earlier goal of gradually reducing its use.
“Phasing out dental amalgam offers countries a unique opportunity to protect people’s health and the environment while accelerating the transition to prevention-oriented, minimally invasive and more sustainable oral health care,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Office. “By working together across the health and environment sectors, we can expand access to safe, effective and people-centred oral health services while building more resilient and environmentally sustainable health systems.”
WHO said mercury released during the manufacture, use and disposal of dental amalgam can contaminate air, water and soil, making the shift to mercury-free alternatives a global public health and environmental priority.
According to WHO, only 19% of countries in the South-East Asia Region had implemented measures to phase down or eliminate dental amalgam by 2024, compared with 31% globally.
“Partnerships between the health and environment sectors are critical” to achieving the Minamata Convention’s goals, said Sudhir Sharma, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution at UNEP, adding that collaboration can “reduce mercury releases, protect ecosystems and communities, and advance more sustainable and resilient health systems.”
The workshop is part of the Global Environment Facility-funded GEF-7 Phasing Down Dental Amalgam Project, implemented by UNEP and executed by WHO, with Thailand showcasing early success in reducing amalgam use through preventive oral health policies and wider adoption of mercury-free restorative materials.
