accessing information about chemicals and chemical hazards
TRANSCRIPT
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
