International Programme on Chemical Safety
The International Programme on Chemical Safety was formed in 1980 and is a collaboration between three United Nations bodies, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, to establish a scientific basis for safe use of chemicals and to strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety.
A related joint project with the same aim, IPCS INCHEM, is a collaboration between IPCS and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
The IPCS identifies following as "chemicals of major public health concern"
- Air pollution
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Cadmium
- Dioxin and dioxin-like substances
- Inadequate or excess Fluoride
- Lead
- Mercury
- Highly hazardous pesticides