IPCS Health and Safety Guide

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An IPCS Health and Safety Guide is a monograph prepared by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and published by the World Health Organization (WHO). They aim to provide "concise information in non-technical language, for decision-makers on risks from exposure to chemicals, with practical advice on medical and administrative issues." [1] Just over 100 HSGs have been published.

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.

World Health Organization Specialised agency of the United Nations

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organisation, was an agency of the League of Nations.

An HSG usually accompanies an Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) monograph. The two documents cover similar material, but the HSG is much shorter and unreferenced (citations to the original sources can be found in the corresponding EHC).

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References

  1. "Health and Safety Guides (HSG)", Inchem, International Programme on Chemical Safety, retrieved 2009-08-31