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The Quick Start Programme: 13 years of advancing sound chemicals management. Established in 2006 by the first International Conference on Chemicals Management – the Quick Start Programme (QSP) concluded in December 2019. The factsheet shares impact through successful projects and activities across the globe.

UNITAR Website webpage indicates activities and resources to learn more about nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials (nano). The third International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3) emphasized: “the need for UNITAR and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to continue development of international guidance and training materials for the sound management of manufactured nanomaterials, drawing on existing initiatives, needs assessment and best practices, within their respective mandates and subject to available resources in cooperation with the regions and other relevant stakeholders"

The term nanomaterials refers to materials that have at least one dimension (height, width or length) that is smaller than 100 nanometres (10−7 metre), which is about the size of a virus particle. This particular size dimension represents a major characteristic of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs). The unique properties of MNMs may result in highly desirable behaviour leading to such varying applications as better paints, better drugs and faster electronics. However, for the same reason, MNMs may also present health hazards

Factsheet with background information on the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme (Special Programme), including objectives, impact and long-term outlook.

Perflourinated Chemicals (PFCs) are the key ingredient in many stain, water and grease repellent coatings that make outdoor jackets water tight and frying pans non sticky. These chemicals consist of long molecules that contain carbon chains surrounded by fluorine. That bond between carbon and fluorine is incredibly tight. They interact so strongly with each other that the normal, inter-molecular forces, that cause substances to stick to each other, don’t stand a chance.While some types of PFCs are either safe or

Pharmaceuticals are chemicals we specifically design to act on living cells. They regulate, in organisms, hormonal balance and the way it metabolizes its nutrients. Pharmaceuticals even change the way signals travel between cells. In order to work, many drugs have to resist the stomach’s acid environment, so the compounds can reach their destination inside the body. That’s why they are formulated to degrade very slowly or not at all. When active pharmaceuticals pass through our bodies and enter the environment

We use a wide variety of chemical compounds to prevent living organisms from damaging crops and spreading diseases like malaria. These compounds are collectively termed pesticides. These days the majority of pesticides have low to moderate acute toxicity. But despite their many positive developments, there remain a small but significant group of Highly Hazardous Pesticides that cause illness and environmental damage.Not only because they are very toxic, but also because they remain active for a long time after being released