The notorious Petersen paper was a propaganda project of the World Health Organization’s in-house dentist. In his paper, Petersen claimed that phasing out amalgam was not feasible and amalgam was a safe product. His written report contradict the offical minutes of the meeting.
After a constructive meeting of many amalgam stakeholders in 2009, where an agreement was reached to “phase down” amalgam, WHO dentist P. E. Petersen was assigned to write up the notes. Instead, Petersen secretly assembled three other pro-mercury dentists, all from developed countries, and produced a paper denying progress could be made on amalgam and making a series of provably false claims about amalgam and about the progress of that stakeholder meeting.
After those attending the meeting proved that the Petersen Paper in no way reflected what occurred there, a world uproar ensued, led by leaders of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) showed great integrity, insisting that the Petersen Paper be withdrawn or else all reference to UNEP removed. Upon my written request, WHO’s Assistant Director-General, Dr. Ala Alwan, agreed to investigate the Petersen Paper, and to his credit, had the paper withdrawn.
It is being rewritten, and — nota bene, my friends — all claims that amalgam is safe are being withdrawn! Likewise, all participants in the meeting are being asked to comment on the paper before it will be issued again. The new report of the stakeholder meeting of 2009 will likely be an honest project, and devoid of propaganda favoring Petersen ally the World Dental Federation.
Our movement for mercury-free dentistry has achieved a stunning victory.
Charlie Brown, President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry
Chiba, Japan, 24 January 2011
