In Dakar, experts from three continents plot the end of mercury in dentistry

The filling in millions of mouths is about half mercury — a toxic metal that can escape into soil and water when fillings are placed, removed or thrown away. This week in Senegal, more than 75 health and environment experts from Africa, Asia and Latin America are meeting to speed up the move to mercury-free dental care, one year after countries agreed to phase out dental amalgam by 2034. The gathering, backed by the Global Environment Facility, the UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organization, is about turning that deadline into national plans: safer filling materials, and safe handling of the mercury waste already out there.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: institutional program