Replacement of amalgam by environmentally friendly alternatives would allow mercury waste to be minimised.
However, inLebanon, many patients prefer amalgam fillings over other available options because it is less costly; in consequence, amalgam made from elemental mercury is still largely used.
A recent study performed in Lebanon highlighted a large area of mercury contamination near a dumping site in Beirut (Abi-Ghanem et al., 2011).