Building capacity to address health aspects of chemical safety
The health and other sectors involved in chemicals management at the national and international levels need to develop adequate capacity to minimize risks from chemicals. This is necessary to address concerns raised by the possible adverse health effects of exposure to chemicals, related to the growing number and volume of those produced and used, including substances with specific properties such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, carcinogens and substances that are toxic for the reproductive system.
Priority areas for WHO capacity-building activities in the European Region include: assessment of risks of chemicals and their mixtures; management of carcinogens, mutagens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals; implementation of health-related activities on international chemicals agreements, especially the Minamata Convention on Mercury; implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and emergency prevention; preparedness and response; and promotion of information sharing and exchange of knowledge.
Current national capacity
A WHO/Europe survey of the 53 Member States in the European Region (2013), with a response rate of 62%, revealed gaps in the following areas:
- legislative requirements to protect the most vulnerable groups;
- specific education and training needs;
- risk-assessment and risk-reduction policies;
- response to chemical emergencies;
- assessment of long-term health effects;
- use of epidemiological tools;
- exposure assessment (including transboundary exposure); and
- protection of populations living in contaminated areas.
