Accessing Information About Chemicals and Chemical Hazards

Chemical Incidents CreateVarious Information Needs

California: 2012 Chevron Refinery Fire

Source: abcnews.com

Texas: 2013 Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Source: U.S. Chemical Safety Board

West Virginia: 2014 West Virginia Chemical Leak/Water Ban

Source: wvpublic.org

Chemical Information Needed

• What is this chemical?– Properties (color, odor, form, weight, solubility)– Use (fuel blending, coal washing, fertilizer

production, hydrodealkylation)• Is this chemical toxic/health effects?– Humans– Animals– Plants

Chemical Information Needed (2)

• What should be done for protection?– First responders, containment, clean up– Residents– Air, water, soil

• If exposed, what should be done?– Fresh air, rinse eyes– Discontinue use of drinking water– Triage, emergency room/hospital, social worker– Potassium supplement, gastric lavage

Chemical Information Needed (3)

• What toxicology studies have been completed?– Journal publications– Government dbases– Industry studies

• What regulations and guidelines exist from government?

• Have similar incidents occurred?

For Answers Search:toxnet.nlm.nih.gov

Poll

Searching HSDB forChemical Information

Search Options:• Chemical identifiers– Name or synonym– Registry number

• Query terms– Disease or health effect– Treatment method– Use

Searching HSDB forChemical Information (2)

Limits Feature• Displays major sections• Expands to display many

data fields• Targeted search• Multiple chemicals in

results

Open browser to demonstrate searching HSDB

Question/Poll

Do these names represent the same chemical?– 4-Methyl-1-cyclohexanemethanol– 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol– MCHM– 4-MCHM– p-Methylcyclohexanemethanol

Answer: Yes

Types of names include:• Systematic (IUPAC-International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry)• Common• Trade• Street

West Virginia Chemical Spill

MCHM: Challenges creating a new HSDB record• 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol• HSDB sources • Limited data available• Peer review of record• Releasing record to the public

Open browser to show MCHM record in HSDB

Questions ?

Presenter:Shannon M. Jordan, MPHNational Library of Medicineshannon.jordan1@nih.gov