Fish contamination drives calls to ban mercury in dental fillings

Britain is facing mounting pressure to ban mercury dental fillings after data revealed alarming contamination levels in fish and shellfish.

- Rachel Salvidge

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can harm the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes, even at low levels.

Its organic form, methylmercury, is particularly dangerous to unborn babies and can move through the food chain, building up in insects, fish and birds. Britain lags behind other countries and blocs on phasing out the fillings, with 43 having banned mercury amalgam, including the EU, Norway, Tanzania, Uganda, Indonesia and the Philippines. Northern Ireland will ban the fillings from 2035.