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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date his Department first issued a warning against the use of mercury-based amalgams in treating the teeth of (a) pregnant women and (b) children; and if he will make a statement; [110481] (2) what recent appraisal his Department has made of the toxic effects of mercury-based amalgams in dentistry; and if he will make a statement; [110485] (3) for what reasons his Department warns against the use of mercury-based amalgams to treat the teeth of (a) women who are pregnant and (b) children; and if he will make a statement. [110479] Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 21 February 2000]: In 1997, the Government's Advisory Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) were asked to review the evidence relating to the toxicity of dental amalgam fillings. COT first considered dental amalgam in 1986 when they reported that the use of dental amalgam was free from risk of systemic toxicity, with only a very few cases of hypersensitivity occurring. COT's 1997 review included evidence in a recent report of an ad hoc working group of experts established by the European Commission to consider dental amalgam within the context of the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC. In their latest statement, published in April 1998, COT stated that the conclusions they had reached in 1986 remain unchanged. However, as a precautionary measure, COT advised that, while there was no evidence that the placement or removal of amalgam fillings during pregnancy was harmful it might be prudent to avoid, where clinically reasonable, the placement or removal of amalgam fillings during pregnancy. The Medical Devices Agency continues to monitor and evaluate the available evidence on the safety and performance of dental amalgam.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

345 c78W; 110481;110485;110479

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Children Dental services Dentistry Health hazards Pregnancy Mercury