[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 23972]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         H.R. 4011, MERCURY IN DENTAL AMALGAM PROHIBITION BILL

  (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, dentistry must stop hiding the large 
presence of mercury in dental fillings. The common name for dental 
fillings is ``silver.'' The term is deceptive because it contains more 
than 50 percent mercury.
  Who can conclusively say dental mercury is safe when in our bodies? 
It is undisputed as a fact that mercury vapor is released during the 
entire life of a mercury filling.
  Madam Speaker, mercury amalgam is considered dangerous when it is put 
in the mouth, and it is labeled a hazardous waste when it is coming 
out. Dental offices contribute approximately 54 tons of toxic mercury 
to the environment each year. Mercury hurts the body's immune system. 
Mercury also causes neural development problems. My bill will protect 
children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers immediately.
  We have abandoned other remnants of pre-Civil War medicine, and we 
have abandoned all other uses of mercury in the body. Now is the time 
to ban mercury in dental fillings.

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