title: The role of the World Health Organization in pesticide research.
abstract: For many years the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, has been involved in activities related to pesticide chemicals such as toxicological evaluation of pesticides used in agriculture, recommendation of limits for pesticide residues in foods, application of pesticides used in public health (including recommending methods and specifications for equipment) and detection of resistance to pesticides. The use of substances toxic to man and to a variety of forms of life comprises an overall health problem, and the participation of WHO at the international level in this area should be regarded as part of its responsibility for promoting the health of all people. During the course of its engagement in these activities the Organization played, and plays, an important role, either by directly sponsoring research projects according to its limited budgetary capabilities or, and mostly, by assisting in the promotion, guidance and coordination of research programmes on a world-wide basis. This paper provides a brief description of the most important activities of WHO and outlines the Organization's involvement in stimulating research in the field of pesticide chemicals. References are made to the "modus operandi" of Expert Committees.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003201:Computers; D006801:Humans; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012106:Research; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides