Chemicals & Poisons
Every day in Britain, chemical incidents occur which threaten people's health. Such threats might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or the deliberate release of chemicals and poisons. Old tyres catch fire releasing clouds of toxic smoke, acid leaks out of a tanker creating noxious gas or an explosion rips through an industrial plant.
We provide authoritative scientific and medical advice to the NHS and other bodies about the known health effects of chemicals, poisons and other environmental hazards.
HIGHLIGHTS
Compendium of Chemical Hazards
The Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division is producing a series entitled a Compendium of Chemical Hazards. The style and content have been developed following extensive joint working across the HPA.
Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe
Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) is an initiative led by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, aiming to protect the health of children and young people from environmental hazards.
Poison information Services
Poisoning accounts for more than 100,000 NHS hospital admissions in the UK each year. Many thousands of different agents are involved and the appropriate management of poisoning is therefore a major task for the NHS.
Chemical Incident Surveillance
Chemical incidents need to be detected early so that effective action can be taken to protect public health. Response and surveillance systems are therefore essential to the Agency's role, along with research to evaluate the effects of exposure
