10.3 Where can I find detailed safety & toxicity data? (Chemical Safety)
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This article is from the Chemistry FAQ, by Bruce Hamilton B.Hamilton@irl.cri.nz with numerous contributions by others.
10.3 Where can I find detailed safety & toxicity data? (Chemical Safety)
The very first question you should ask is, "Am I qualified to assess
the data?". If the answer is no, then your best option is to locate somebody
who is. This can be a Health and Safety Officer, staff of an appropriate
government organisation (eg OSHA, NIOSH ), or a specialist consultant.
Most institutions have a policy of ensuring workers are given sufficient
information about hazards to ensure they can make an informed decision.
There are several major compilations that are usually found in libraries,
including RTECS, Sax, and the three-volume Sigma-Aldrich Library of
Regulatory and Safety Data [7]. In general, because safety information can
become obsolete rapidly, these should only be used as an introductory guide,
and they should be complemented with either an on-line search or consultation
with
an expert. Detailed information for unusual chemicals is often difficult to
locate in the published literature, and may only be available to qualified
professionals in the health and safety fields. Sometimes the toxicity has to
be inferred from published information on related compounds, and such
assessments should always be performed by experts.
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