Environment, climate change and health (ECH) for practitioners and actors
guiding policy change
Module 3: Chemicals. Radiation. Solid waste.
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Course outline
Module 1. Introduction to ECH.
Module 2. Air pollution. Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH). Climate change.
Module 3. Chemicals. Radiation. Solid waste.
Module 4. Environmental noise. Nature, biodiversity and health. Safe and healthy food. Transport,
mobility and physical activity.
Module 5. Priority settings for actions: occupational & workplace health; cities/urban settlements;
health care facilities.
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Module 3 learning objectives
This module addresses the most important exposures, health impacts and actions,
interventions and policies on the following topics:
• Chemicals
• Radiation
• Solid waste.
By the end of this module, you will:
− explain sources of exposures and the health risks posed by chemicals, radiation, solid waste;
− describe what type of interventions can be implemented to address these health risks; and
− refer to detailed resources on designing and implementing the interventions.
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Chemicals
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Chemicals –
10 chemicals of major public health concern
Many chemicals impact our health – both positively and negatively.
WHO has identified chemicals of particular public health concern,
including but not limited to:
• Air pollution
• Arsenic
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Cadmium
• Dioxins and dioxin-like substances
• Inadequate or excess fluoride
• Lead
• Mercury
• Highly hazardous pesticides.
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Source: WHO: Chemical Safety and Health
Chemicals – Exposure (1)
Exposure to selected chemicals causes around 2 million deaths each year.
Human exposure to chemicals is ubiquitous and occurs
through many sources and through various routes.
Important sources of exposure are food, water, air, direct
exposure at the workplace etc.
Important routes of exposure are breathing, ingestion
of water, food, soil and dust, skin contact etc.
Sources: WHO 2021: The public health impact of chemicals
WHO 2021: Guideline for clinical management of exposure to lead 6
Chemicals – Exposure (2)
Human exposure to chemicals throughout their life-cycle and
selected programmes relevant to their prevention
Source: Prüss-Ustün et al. 2011: Knowns and unknowns on burden
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of disease due to chemicals: A systematic review
Chemicals – Health impacts
• Unintentional poisonings (73%*)
• Self-inflicted injuries (20%)
• Congenital anomalies (5%)
• Cardiovascular diseases (4.6%)
• Chronic kidney diseases (3%)
• Idiopathic intellectual disability (30%)
• Cancers (2.9%)
• Pneumoconiosis (100%)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16%).
*The percentage indicates the proportion of disease that is due to
exposure to selected chemicals.
Source: WHO 2021: The public health impact of chemicals: knowns and unknowns - data addendum for 2019 8
Chemicals – Actions for health (1)
Selected actions and policies for promoting chemical safety:
✓ Implement the WHO Chemical’s Road Map.
✓ Implement the International Health Regulations (IHR).
✓ Implement the health aspects of multilateral environment agreements,
especially:
✓ the Minamata Convention
✓ the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
✓ the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.
Further guidance on
chemicals & health
action 9
Chemicals – Actions for health (2)
Selected actions and policies for promoting chemical
safety:
✓ Establish health-based guidelines for chemicals in
water, soil, food, products, and occupational exposures.
✓ Establish and strengthen poisons centres in all countries.
✓ Promote communication of relevant information &
training to enable informed decision-making throughout
product life cycle, e.g., through classification and labelling.
Further guidance on
chemicals & health
action 10
Chemicals – Further resources
✓ Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environments, chemical section
✓ WHO: Chemical’s road map and workbook
✓ WHO: Ten chemicals of major public health concern
✓ WHO: INCHEM database
✓ WHO Guidelines for establishing a poison centre
✓ WHO: International Health Regulations (2005) and chemical events
✓ WHO health topic: Chemical safety
✓ WHO health topic: Chemical incidents
✓ WHO Team: Chemical Safety and Health
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Thank you!
Please check the resources.
Photo credits
Shutterstock / PIPAT YAPATHANASAP slide 6
WHO / Blink Media - Tali Kimelman slide 8
WHO / Blink Media - Amanda Mustard slide 10
