The presentation focused on the development process of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines. These guidelines are frequently utilized by lawmakers and judges as a scientific reference. However, the recommendations within WHO Guidelines are expected to adhere to the procedures outlined in the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development, which involve not only systematic reviews of scientific literature but also the consideration of external criteria. As part of the 10th Anniversary of the Groningen Centre for Health Law at the University of Groningen, the presentation critically examined the scientific validity of WHO Guidelines, with a particular focus on two globally significant guidelines: the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines and the WHO Drinking-Water Quality Guidelines.
Bertaux et al. (Wed,) studied this question.