(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Diane E. Watson has reintroduced a bill to prohibit the use of mercury in dental fillings.  H.R. 4011, The Mercury in Dental Fillings Disclosure and Prevention Act, prohibits after 2008 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury intended for use in a dental filling.

“Mercury is the most toxic naturally occurring element on the earth,” said Congresswoman Watson.  “Many Americans are still not aware that the vast majority of dental filling used by dentists –referred to as a silver filling– contains more than 50% mercury.  It’s past time for American dentistry to revamp this pre-Civil War practice and acknowledge the serious health risks associated with mercury dental amalgams.”

Mercury dental amalgam was introduced more than 150 years ago as a tooth restoration.  Today, it is still the most widely used restorative in the U.S. despite the introduction of new non-mercury based types of fillings.  It is an amalgam of several metals, including silver and copper, but mercury is the principal component.  Dental amalgams have been shown to constantly emit mercury vapor that is inhaled and absorbed into the blood stream.

In addition to banning the use of mercury in dental fillings after 2008, H.R. 4011 establishes an immediate prohibition on the use of dental amalgams in pregnant women and children under 18 years of age.

Congresswoman Watson will hold an informational dental amalgam mercury vapor screening for congressional members and staff on November 18, 2005.

Current sponsors of H.R. 401l: Henry Cuellar (TX), Elijah Cummings (MD), Major Owens (NY), Ed Towns (NY), G.K. Butterfield (NC), Loretta Sanchez (CA), Grace F. Napolitano (CA), Shelley Berkeley (NV), Wm. Lacy Clay (MO), Michael H. Michaud (ME), and Dan Burton (IN).