[Disparity on the grade of exposure to ecological risks in the European region of WHO].

Disparity in relation of ecological conditions and health concerns to the general differences in environmental conditions and in large extent is stipulated by socio-economic and demographic differences in the impact of its hazards. In addition to differences in the impact the inequality in relation of ecological conditions and health can also be caused by social or demographic differences in exposure to certain risks. This article offers an assessment of the evidence and data on differences in the impact of the environment in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) received during the recent work of the European Regional Office of WHO. The obtained results testify that socio-demographic disparity in the impact of the environment exists in all countries. Such inequality can be seen in respect of a variety offactors, such as age, gender income level, or on the contrary, poverty, education and employment, household type, location of the home.

[The potential of the member states of the European Region of WHO in the field of prevention of adverse effects of chemicals on human health and measures for its strengthening].

The issue of providing chemical safety for the population, and especially for the most vulnerable groups remains to be actual in relation to the significant contribution of the impact of hazardous chemicals in the forming of morbidity rate, industrial growth and return of chemical products, rapid development and introduction of new technologies. The international community has adopted a series of mandatory and voluntary initiatives in the field of chemical safety. Strategic document for the WHO European Region, determining priorities in this area, is the Parma Declaration. Implementation of a wide range of arrangements set out in the Declaration requires sufficient capacity of the health sector and other concerned parties, the scope of which is addressed to aspects of healthcare from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Performed by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) the assessment of existing in this area capacity based on the survey permitted to identify significant gaps in the legislative regulation, policies and planning, human and technical resources, the collection and exchange of information, education and training. With the participation of national experts ECEH developed a set of recommended measures aimed to the creation and strengthening the potential. Development and implementation of effective national strategies/plans/actions with regard to regional priorities and recommended actions will allow to increase the level of chemical safety for the population of the region as a whole.