International Programme on Chemical Safety

The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) 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.^[1]

A related joint project with the same aim, IPCS INCHEM, is a collaboration between IPCS and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).^[2]

The IPCS identifies the following as "chemicals of major public health concern":

• Air pollution
• Arsenic
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Cadmium
• Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds
• Inadequate or excess fluoride
• Lead
• Mercury
• Highly hazardous pesticides^[3]

• Acceptable daily intake
• International Chemical Safety Card
• Concise International Chemical Assessment Document
• Food safety

• Official WHO site
• Official site