Chemical Safety

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Announcements

2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Washington, D.C. May 1st., 2008.- Director's closing remarks at PAHO HQ Ceremony.
'Since the launch of the PAHO Workers' Health Regional Plan of Action in 1999, several milestones have been attained to help improve the lives and well-being of million of workers, their families, and communities in the Americas. Over the years, there has been an increase in awareness of the role and influence of our environment and workplace environment on our health. This has been possible through the advocacy and work of local, national, and international leaders in the field of occupational and environmental health. This day provides us with an opportunity to recognize the commitment of the global community that works towards a common goal: improving the health and safety of workers.'
Director's closing remarks »
Director's Newslettter - 2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work »(2/May/2008)
In English       .   
en español     .   

TIME TO ACT: Protecting Health from Climate Change
Google News. April 11, 2008.- Google News asked Dr. Roses to write a special comment related to the theme of the World Health Day 2008 celebration: “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.
Global health put at risk by climate change. "The effect of climate change over health is neither a minor issue nor a theoretical possibility: it is already happening, here and now, and it is related to major public health problems.
You are also invited to comment at her BLog: Comment from Google News by Mirta Roses, Director, Pan American Health Organization » (12/Apr/2008)
In English       .   

PAHO and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work signed an Arrangement to strengthen and improve safety and health at work in the Americas. Madrid, España. Julio 6, 2006.
Dr Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, signed a cooperation arrangement on the exchange of information on workers’ health.(10/Jul/2006)
In English       (63.64k)  
en español     (4.81k)   (64.82k)  

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Books

Handbook for a safe and healthy school - A healthy environment for children
This manual provides specific guidelines for safe and healthy schools in Suriname and aims at policy makers, school management and boards, headmasters and teachers and guides their attention to specific environmental health related problem areas and offers appropriate solutions for school environments. This manual contains the experiences of several projects executed in the period 2000-2005, which aimed to improve environmental health conditions at schools. This manual is divided into 8 chapters. This book also highlights the commitment and participation of students in health and environmental health issues and activities at school. We advice all teachers to stimulate, encourage and actively support the establishment and functioning of student health, environmental and safety clubs.(31/Oct/2005)
In English       (8778.38k)  

Pesticides and Health in the Central American Isthmus
This document was prepared using the conceptual model of Motor Force, Pressure, State, Exposition, Effects and Action adapted by the World Health Organization from the proposal made by UNDP to supervise the progress towards sustainable development, and it carries out quantitative analysis of the import, use and consequences that the use of chemical pesticides in the Central American Isthmus represent for health conditions.(16/Aug/2005)
In English       (3354.08k)  

Laboratory Biosafety Manual Third Edition
The third edition of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual is a helpful reference and guide to nations that accept the challenge to develop and establish national codes of practice for securing microbiological assets, yet ensuring their availability for clinical, research and epidemiological purposes.(7/Mar/2005)
In English       (3.55k)  
en español     (5.28k)  
en Français    (6.26k)  
em Português (5.58k)  

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Other Resources

Sustainable Development and Environmental Health - Healthy Environment
Sustainable Development and Environmental Health (SDE) - Environmental Health, Toxicology Networks, Retoxlac, Self-instruction Courses, Pesticides for Domestic Use(12/Aug/2005)
In English       (11.93k)  
en español     (14.06k)  

Curso de auto instrucción sobre prevención, preparación y respuesta a accidentes químicos
Una nueva versión bilingüe (español/portugués) de este material de capacitación cuya novedad es la metodología de autoaprendizaje. El curso tiene cinco secciones con presentaciones y módulos de preguntas y respuestas para permitir al alumno la autoevaluación de su aprendizaje.(7/Nov/2003)
en español     (3.72k)  

Bioterrorism in Latin America and the Caribbean-Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
The risk is slight that a country in Latin American or Caribbean would be the direct target of an international terrorist act. Nonetheless, Member States in the Region have identified the need to improve the capacity of their health services to prepare for and respond to any potential emergencies resulting from biological, chemical or radiological (BCR) terrorism. In the case of biological terrorism, effective and timely detection and response in any one country is of paramount importance for the entire region. The threat is international.(5/Apr/2002)
In English       (14.93k)  
en español     (18.08k)  

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Periodical Publications

Epidemiological Alerts Archives, 2003–2008
(Note: Series renamed, formerly EID Updates: Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Region of the Americas.)
The purpose of these alerts is to disseminate information on the latest public-health events that have been identified as risks to health, trade, and/or international travel. Most of these events are primarily due to infectious agents, while others are due to chemical or physical agents. The PAHO Epidemiological Alerts published at the regional level (for the Americas) complement the WHO Disease Outbreak News published at the global level. The latest issues can be found at the new site, 2009 onwards.(3/Apr/2009)
In English       (36.2k)  
en español     (40.91k)  

NYAM NEWS October 1&2, 2004 - The acrylamide scare
The occurrence of acrylamide in the common foods we eat created such a stir in 2004. Find out more about its formation in foods, its effect on the body and its uses.(1/Oct/2004)
In English       (3.13k)  

Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas. July 2000, No. 81
Editorial on "The Medical Response to Natural Disasters: Have We Learned Anything Yet?" It also contains information from PAHO/WHO, other organizations, PAHO member countries and new publications on disasters.(1/Jul/2000)
In English       (279.98k)  
en español     (260.33k)  

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Technical Documents

WHA60.18: Malaria, including Proposal for Establishment of World Malaria Day
This resolution from the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007 sets forth the WHO global mandate for malaria and a proposal for an annual World Malaria Day, which PAHO has adopted for the Americas.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.18  
en español     WHA60.18  
en Français    WHA60.18  

Safety of Pyrethroids for Public Health Use
Pyrethroids are widely used in public health because of their relative safety for humans, high insecticidal potency at low dosages and rapid knock-down effects. WHO has assessed the safety and efficacy of pyrethroids for different applications in vector control, as well as in disinsection of aircrafts. The purpose of this document is to critically review current knowledge on the safety of pyrethroids and whether existing WHO recommendations for pyrethroid applications should be revised or modified. (This review does not consider the use of pyrethroids in space spraying and vapour applications, e.g. in mosquito coils and aerosols.)(31/May/2005)
In English       (5.06k)  

Global Insecticide Use for Vector-Borne Disease Control (2^nd ed.)
Vector control constitutes an important element in the current global strategy for the control of major vector-borne diseases, and chemical control remains an important element in an integrated approach to vector control. This publication attempts to document the use of insecticides for vector control at the global level concerning the evelopment of guidelines on safe and effective use of insecticides and on resistance management, agreements for international use of insecticides, investment for development of alternatives, and review and formulation of policies for insecticide usage at different levels.(31/May/2005)
In English       (3.99k)