KATHMANDU: The use of mercury, a toxic chemical element, in dental fillings has significantly dropped, according to a study.

The study carried out by the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) shows that 93.62 percent of dental health care providers were not found using harmful chemicals, which is a very positive result.

For the study, various 42 basic health institutions and 47 dental health institutions from seven provinces were surveyed.

Director General of the Department of Health Services Dr. Dipendra Raman Singh called for making the country free of mercury use cent percent.