By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—CHAIRMAN of a civil society group, Phase-out of Dental  Amalgam Use in Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, has lamented that Nigeria has remained one of the dumping grounds for Amalgam products in the world.

He made the disclosure in Benin City, Edo State,  while addressing  a stakeholders’ meeting on Phase Down of Dental Amalgam use in Edo State, an event put together by Sustainable Environment Development Initiative, SEDI Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme: “Towards Mercury free Dentistry in Edo State,” he noted  that it had  become  worrisome that the country had remained a dumping ground for such product as dangerous as Amalgam.

He said, “Though the product is  cheap and affordable but when we consider havoc done to one’s health and the environment, it becomes clear that it is more expensive compared to other dental  products.

“Amalgam is now recognised as “more expensive than most, possibly all, other fillings considering environmental costs.  Even when environmental costs are not taken into account, alternatives can still be the same price or even less expensive than Amalgam.

“For example, automatic restorative treatment costs only half as much as Amalgam restorations.”

He appealed to the Ministries of Environment and Health to work in synergy to phase out the product from the country.