Highly hazardous pesticides
Highly hazardous pesticides may have acute and/or chronic toxic effects, and pose particular risk to children. Their widespread use has caused health problems and fatalities in many parts of the world, often as a result of occupational exposure and accidental or intentional poisonings.
Available data are too limited to estimate the global health impacts of pesticides, however the global impact of self-poisoning (suicides) from preventable pesticide ingestion has however been estimated to amount to 186,000 deaths and 4,420,000 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2002.
Environmental contamination can also result in human exposure through consumption of residues of pesticides in food and, possibly, drinking water. While developed countries have systems already in place to register pesticides and control their trade and use, this is not always the case elsewhere. Guidance and legal frameworks on the use, management and trade of pesticides, as well as proper storage and handling, are available from international organizations and international conventions; these should be implemented globally.
Short information documents for decision makers
Tools for action
- IOMC Toolbox for decision-making in chemicals management
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Safer Access to Pesticides: Community Interventions
pdf, 578kb - Technical guidance for management of public health pesticides
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Sound management of pesticides and diagnosis and treatment of pesticide poisoning: a resource tool
pdf, 3.21Mb - Guidelines on compliance and enforcement of a pesticide regulatory programme (pdf)
- Quality control of pesticides products - Guidelines for national laboratories (pdf)
- Guidelines on personal protection when working with pesticides in the tropical climates (pdf)
- Global guide to resources for implementation of IFCS forum IV recommendation
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Guidelines for predicting dietary intake of pesticide residues
pdf, 340kb - Guidelines for the management of small quantities of unwanted and obsolete pesticides
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Guidelines for the management and disposal of empty pesticide containers
pdf, 1.04Mb - Guidelines for procuring public health pesticides (pdf)
Norms and guidance values
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
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The WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard
pdf, 2.23Mb - Pesticide residues in food: Maximum residue limits / extraneous maximum residue limits
- Guidelines for drinking-water quality (Fourth edition), chapter 12.1