Chemical safety

Chemicals or group of chemicals of major public health concern include arsenic, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, dioxin and dioxin-like substances, inadequate or excess fluoride, lead, mercury and highly hazardous pesticides. Chemical safety is achieved by undertaking all activities involving chemicals in such a way so as to ensure the safety of health and environment. It covers all chemicals, natural and manufactured, and full range of exposure situations, from natural presence of chemicals in environment to their extraction or synthesis, industrial production, transportation and disposal.

The health impact of chemicals is determined by a process of assessment, which aims to provide a scientific description of the risks of chemical exposures. These descriptions are published in assessment reports and other related documents so that governments and international and national organizations can use them as the basis for taking preventive actions against adverse health and environmental impacts.

Through the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), WHO works to establish the scientific basis for the sound management of chemicals, and to strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety.