UK Fish Contaminated: Mercury Fillings Ban Urged as 98% Exceed Safety Limits

A shocking new study has found that more than 98% of fish and mussels in English waters contain mercury levels that exceed European Union safety standards, intensifying calls for the United Kingdom to join other nations in banning mercury-based dental fillings.

The alarming contamination data puts renewed spotlight on Britain’s continued use of mercury amalgam fillings, making it one of the few developed countries that hasn’t prohibited the practice. Environmental advocates argue that dental mercury is a significant contributor to the toxic metal’s presence in waterways, as it enters the environment through human waste and cremation emissions.

Mercury poses serious health risks as a powerful neurotoxin that can damage the nervous system, digestive tract, immune system, lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes—even at relatively low exposure levels. The organic form found in marine life, called methylmercury, is particularly concerning for pregnant women, as it can harm developing babies’ brains and nervous systems. This toxic compound accumulates as it moves up the food chain, concentrating in predatory fish that many people regularly consume.

The widespread contamination of British waters highlights how mercury pollution has become a persistent environmental and public health challenge. While the dental industry has developed mercury-free alternatives for fillings, the UK continues to lag behind international efforts to phase out this toxic metal. Environmental groups are now using this latest evidence to pressure policymakers into action, arguing that protecting both marine ecosystems and human health requires eliminating unnecessary sources of mercury pollution, starting with dental practices.