international programme on chemical safety international programme on chemical safety the international programme on chemical safety (ipcs) was formed in 1980 and is a collaboration between three united nations bodies, the world health organization, the international labour organization and the united nations environment programme, to establish a scientific basis for safe use of chemicals and to strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety. a related joint project with the same aim, ipcs inchem, is a collaboration between ipcs and the canadian centre for occupational health and safety (ccohs). the ipcs identifies the following as "chemicals of major public health concern": air pollution arsenic asbestos benzene cadmium dioxin and dioxin-like substances inadequate or excess fluoride lead mercury highly hazardous pesticides