International approach to the assessment of chemical risks

One of the main objectives of the International Programme on Chemical Safety, a joint venture of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Labour Organization, is to carry out and disseminate evaluations of the risk to human health and the environment from exposure to chemicals, mixtures of chemicals, or combinations of chemicals and physical and biological agents. These evaluations, performed by groups of internationally reputed and independent experts, provide a scientific and objective basis that national authorities may be able to use for planning and for the development of control measures, such as the establishment of exposure limits for chemical pollutants.