=======================Electronic Edition========================
RACHEL’S HAZARDOUS WASTE NEWS #17
—March 23, 1987—
News and resources for environmental justice.
——
Environmental Research Foundation
P.O. Box 5036, Annapolis, MD 21403
Fax (410) 263-8944; Internet: erf@igc.apc.org
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LATEST TOXICOLOGY INFORMATION AVAILABLE BY HOME COMPUTER.
The National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) is a computerized system of
toxicologically oriented data banks, offering a sophisticated search and retrieval package which permits
efficient access to information on known chemicals and identifies unknown chemicals based on their
characteristics. TOXNET files include: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), Toxicology Data Bank
(TDB), and Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System (CCRIS). Registered NLM users can
access TOXNET by direct dial or through TELENET or TYMNET telecommunications networks. Average
search charges (per hour) are $75.00 for prime time. For detailed information on TOXNET contact: National
Library of Medicine, Specialized Information Services, Biomedical Files Implementation Branch, 8600
Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894. (301) 496-6531 or 496-1131.
Although you obviously shouldn’t rely on industry data alone, it is sometimes useful to get the
manufacturer of a chemical to tell you what’s known about its hazards.
The Chemical Manufacturers Association makes available a toll free telephone number that anyone in the
general public can use to gain access to non-emergency health and safety information about chemicals. This
service, the Chemical Referral Center (CRC), is available by calling 800-CMA-8200 Monday through Friday, 8
AM to 9 PM est. When an inquiry comes into the Center about a chemical, the operator first determines that
it is not an emergency. Emergencies are referred to a different service, called CHEMTREC, which gives
emergency personnel detailed information on how to handle the incident. If the inquiry is not an emergency,
the operator finds out the name of the company that manufactures the product in question. Working from a
computerized index of over 110,000 trade name products, the operator gives the caller the address and phone
number of the company person to call. That person will provide the specific health and safety information
asked for.
For more information about the Chemical Referral Center contact Fran Griffin at (202) 887-1318.
–Peter Montague, Ph.D.
Descriptor terms: information services; toxicology; chemicals; databases; industry; national library of
medicine; toxicology data network; chemical manufacturers association; carcinogens; cancer; chemtrec;
hotlines; phone; phones; telephone; telephones; chemical manufacturers association; toxnet; nlm;
computerized information systems;