Toxicology databases for the work environment |
The internet provides
easy access to information on toxic substances in the work envionrment
- often for free. The databases described below
are selected with focus on the work environment – and high
quality.
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Miscellaneous (e.g. skin absorption, use
of chemicals in Nordic countries (SPIN))
The World Wide Web changes
continuously. Please contact ksh@arbejdsmiljoforskning.dk if you
know additional websites with toxicology data bases or come
across a dead link.
Clear identification of the substance in question is the starting
point for all toxicological seraches. The CAS number, i.e. the
substance’s unique number from the Chemical Abstracts Service, gives
the best results. Searches for synonyms and commercial names
are imprecise – you will only find information about the
substances using that particular name. REMEMBER double-check that the
resulting CAS number is correct, e.g. by means of physical-chemical
data
ChemFinder
An extensive Chemical database with CAS numbers, synonyms, and
physical-chemical data plus links to sites with toxicological
information (see the “Health”-heading), e.g. IARC.
ChemIDplus
Resembles ChemFinder but with different links, e.g. to direct searches
in TOXNET databases. Also, the site provides three-dimensional
illustrations of chemical structures.
Ämnesregistret
Relatively flexible with respect to spelling and contains both
Swedish and English synonyms. Do you only know the [Danish] synonym,
try here. Classification and labeling is indicated by choosing
“Klassificering och märkning”.
TEMPORARELY NOT VALID On-line access to national lists of
occupational exposure limits:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia,
European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA
TEMPORARELY NOT VALID
Occupational limit values from EU, nine EU member states
and USA - possible to wiew values from all
countries together. Limit values of more than 1,000 substances are listed.
However, values for fibrous substances are not included. The
German Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitschutz (BGIA) is
behind this initiative, written in English language. Also links
to other on-line lists.
National procedures for setting occupational exposure limits is
described for some countries at the
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
Riskline
Bibliographic information on toxicological summaries only, from ACGIH,
MAK, DECOS, ECETOC, NEG, IARC, EHC etc. Ideal if you
request toxicological reviews, often from governmental institutions,
but not toxicological original literature. (As of July 2007, no longer
updated).
TOXLINE Special
A must for toxicological searches. Abstracted references of
toxicologically relevant publications from more than 3 million references
from e.g. Riskline, Biological Abstracts, NIOSH, part of PubMed,
International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, International Labor Office,
Poisonous Plant Bibliography etc.
PubMed
searches in more than 11 million papers in thousands of
peer-reviewed biomedical journals, from 1953. PubMed does not
include the criteria documents, that appear in Riskline. CAS
numbers may be used, additional references may appear by use of
synonyms. The number of hits may be limited to reviews (Limits >
Publication Types > Review). A focused search may use specific
search terms (publishing year, animal species, gender, etc.) and PubMed’s
own technical search terms (MeSH: Medical Subject Headings), e.g.
Occupational Exposure and Occupational Diseases. Some journals provide
free electronic access to publications.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,
ATSDR
Contains the Toxicological Profiles, written in a non-technical language.
The profiles go through many aspects of more than 250 chemicals on a
question and answer basis. Sensitive population groups are identified.
Dutch
Expert Committee on Occupational Standards, DECOS
Determines health based occupational exposure limits. The underlying
criteria documents are available in full, together with many other reports,
among others on reproductive effects.
European
chemical Substances Information System, ESIS
Information on chemicals, from the extensive Risk Assessment
Reports (RAR) to the shorter IUCLID data sheets, and Classification
and Labelling (Risk and Safety Phrases, Danger etc...). Type
your CAS-number, and, on the resulting page, click on
the underlined #EC - and access the available information.
[from the European Union]
Hazardous Substances Data Bank, HSDB
Records for more than 4500 potentially hazardous chemicals. Based on a wide
range of source material with clear reference to the cited
references. 15 subcategories including human health effects, emergency
medical treatment, and animal toxicity studies.
INCHEM
Full access to several peer-reviewed toxicological
reports incl. the Environmental Health Criteria monographs (EHC),
Concise International Chemical Assessment Document (CICADs), and
International Agency on Cancer (IARC) Summaries and Evaluations.
Integrated Risk Information System, IRIS
Monographs for more than 500 substances. The database focuses on estimation
of exposure limits for different routes of exposure.
The Nordic Expert Group (NEG)
Criteria documents on chemicals providing a scientific basis for
setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs). Access all documents in
full by choosing “Documents” – if you search the site
directly, the full documents may be downloaded through the “Show all
documents”-list.
National Toxicology Program, NTP
Performs studies of substances for several health effects, generally
using rodent models for study and protocols specifically designed to fully
characterize the toxic potential, incl. toxicology, carcinogenecity,
mutagenecity, immunology, development and reproduction.
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
Fact sheets for almost 1500 substances. A result of the American state New
Jersey’s “Right to know act” instructs all companies to inform their
employees about hazardous chemicals in their working environment. The fact
sheets tend to be more cautious than usual, and
have the advantage that also less known effects are included
which makes the reader aware of problems to be further examined!
International Chemical Safety cards, ICSCs
Written for the people using the substances at their workplace. Sums up
essential information about health effects and safety.
Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances,
RTECS
RTECS contains data extracted in short from the open scientific literature,
arranged by six types of toxicity data, primary irritation, mutagenic
effects, reproductive effects, tumorigenic effects, acute toxicity, and
other multiple dose toxicity. Specific numeric toxicity values such as
LD50, LC50, TDLo, and TCLo are noted as well as species studied and route
of administration used. No peer-review - and you'll have to pay to
access the database.
MSDS
Databases
Several databases with thousands of MSDSs.
Where to find MSDS on
the Internet
Links to more than 100 websites on the Internet with product data
sheets.
Specific health effects
The comprehensive reviews described above often addresses the different
effect areas separately, e.g. carcinogenesis and reproductive health. Some
toxicological databases are specifically allocated to certain areas of
toxicological effects:
Asmanet provides information regarding occupational
asthma. Access via a list list of more than 400
specific agents causing specific occupational asthma,
through the type of more than 140
jobs. Information on incidence, conditions, diagnosis, and
symptoms for each agent.
National Toxicology Program, NTP performs studies of
substances for effects on the immune system.
Chemikalien und Kontaktallergie provides summaries of skin
allergenic properties of more than 240 chemicals.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
evaluates the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans, based on all data
on carcinogenicity and on specific exposure situations. The
newer IARC monographs are avalible for download in full.
Genetic toxicology (GENE-TOX) contains genetic toxicology
(mutagenicity) test data, resulting from expert peer review of the open
scientific literature, on more than 3000 chemicals [US
Environmental Protection Agency].
The
Carcinogenic Potency Project - potency in TD50 for 1500
chemicals based on 6000 long-term animal cancer tests, incl.
description of study design and features of experimental protocol.
Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System (CCRIS) is
expert reviewed and contains more than 8000 chemical records with
carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, tumor promotion, and tumor inhibition test
results from primary journals, current awareness tools, NCI reports, and
other special sources [US National Cancer Intsitute].
National Toxicology Program, NTP performs studies of
substances for carcinogenic and mutagenic effects.
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology/Environmental Teratology
Information center Database (DART/ETIC) is a bibliographic database
with particular emphasis on reproduction and developmental toxicology.
Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, CERHR
Scientifically based, uniform assessments of the
potential for adverse effects on reproduction and development caused by
agents to which humans may be exposed. This is accomplished through
rigorous evaluations of the scientific literature by independent panels of
scientists.
National Toxicology Program,
NTP
Performs studies of substances for developmental effects and reproductive toxicology.
Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Standards,
DECOS
Among DECOS's many criteria documents,
among others extensive documents on effects on reproduction and
recommendations for classification.
Reprotox sums information on the hazards of e.g.
chemicals and drugs to human reproduction and development, based on
human, animal, and in vitro data and cover every aspect of human
reproduction including fertility, male exposure, and
lactation. Unfortunately – you must pay to use it’s
services.
Skin penetration
EDETOX (Evaluations
and Predicitons of Dermal Absorption of Toxic Chemicals)
has been produced from more than 2400 in vivo and in vitro percutaneous
penetration studies, compiled from the published literature. The database
was concluded in 2005.
Use of
chemicals
SPIN (Substances in Preparations in the Nordic
Countries)
contains information on the use and quantity of
chemical substances in each of the Nordic countries. Nordic legislation
requires manufacturers and importers of chemical substances and
preparations (products) to declare information on quantity, function, type
of industry, composition, etc. SPIN contains info on 20.000+ substances.
Number of products containing each substance and annual volumes are given
in total, and distributed to use categories for product types and
industrial areas. (Press the button “Guide” for guidance).
Links between job task and chemical
exposure
Haz-Map is an
occupational toxicology database designed to link jobs with hazardous
job tasks, which then are linked to occupational diseases and their
symptoms. The 1149 chemical and biological agents in the database are
linked to industrial processes and non-occupational activities. Linkage
indicates the potential for exposure to the agent.
Links to links
Hardin
Library for the Health Sciences
The library contains links to lists of links. All lists are
organized by medical subject headings – try e.g. Occupational Health,
Poisoning, or Toxicology.
Karin
Sørig Hougaard, April 20, 2010
Updated 18-06-2010
