Background. Mercury in dental amalgam is a hidden source of global mercury pollution, resulting from the illegal diversion of dental mercury into the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, to crematoria emissions from the deceased and sewage sludge that is sold to farmers. These significant mercury sources result in air, water, and food contamination that consequently have a negative impact on human health. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate and report on all of the various pathways mercury in dental amalgam can enter the environment. Methods. The present study searched the electronic data bases of PubMed and Google Scholar. Peer reviewed journals and references of studies included for full-text review were examined for potentially relevant studies. Articles published between 2000 to 2018 were searched and specifically screened for articles that referenced "Dental Amalgam, " and the following key words in various combinations: "Minamata Convention on Mercury Treaty, " "Sewage Sludge, " "Cremation, " and "Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining. " Data were included on the most populous countries of China, India, the United States, Brazil, and the European Union collectively. We also included data on cremation statistics and current global trends, looking at populations where cremation is a common practice, such as Japan and India. Discussion. Dental amalgam represents a significant, but understudied area of global mercury pollution that includes cremation, sewage sludge, burial, and small-scale gold mining. Conclusions. Mercury used in products and processes, including dental amalgams, is a global pollutant. Even after the last mercury dental amalgam is placed, its toxic legacy will continue for decades, because of its pervasive bioaccumulation in the environment. Government regulatory agencies should make it mandatory to utilize available technologies, not only in developing countries, but also in developed countries, to reduce mercury contamination.

Mercury dental amalgam has been used as a dental restorative material for almost 200 years. Even though mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive material known to man, there has been an ongoing controversy about its safety since it was first introduced for use in dentistry. In 2013, a global treaty was adopted to address the dangers of mercury-containing products and processes called the Minamata Convention on Mercury Treaty, which went into force in 2017. This global mercury treaty listed mercury dental amalgam as a “phase-down” product. It is the only product in the treaty that is implanted in the human body and the only product listed simply as “phase-down”. While many evidence-based scientific papers have reported that mercury dental amalgam negatively affects human health, it is still the most commonly used dental restorative material in the world. Since the treaty has gone into force, many developed countries, countries with emerging economies, and developing countries have banned the use of mercury dental amalgam in the spirit of the treaty whose mantra is “Make Mercury History”. However, a date certain to ban mercury dental amalgam’s use globally has not yet been achieved. The latest significant findings on human exposure to mercury dental amalgam using the “Gold Standard” National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, may finally be the catalyst that will achieve the goal and “Make Mercury History” in the dental sector.

Short CommunicationThe controversy between pharmaceutical drugs and supplements is ever present in global society, especially now, in the media during the current Covid-19 virus. One of the most important, yet, provocative supplements is vitamin C. While historically, its positive benefits have long been known, during the last decades the push for pharmaceutical drugs, instead of supplements like vitamin C, has created a heated debate against this, and other very affordable supplements. The majority of primates, including humans, guinea pigs, some birds and fish do not make vitamin C, however, most mammals are able to synthesize it in their liver or kidneys. The result of this genetic mutation in humans, therefore, requires vitamin C to be consumed through dietary sources. Clinical studies indicate that vitamin C neither increases nor reduces the occurrence of kidney stones, it also has no mutagenic effect with up to 5000mg per day [1].

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