Information Resources from the National Library of Medicine's Division of Specialized Information Services
Colette Hochstein, DMD, MLS (Colette@nlm.nih.gov), Division of Specialized Information Services, NLM
The Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) creates information resources and services in toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, and HIV/AIDS. Another component of SIS, the Office of Outreach and Special Populations, seeks to improve access to quality and accurate health information by under-served and special populations. Many SIS products help to address the toxicology and environmental health information needs of the general public. NLM’s environmental health and toxicology resources include:
TOXNET®
TOXNET® (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/) is a Web-based collection of resources covering toxicology, chemical safety, environmental health and related areas. TOXNET can dynamically generate specific "multi-database" searches via simple Web links. Information about creating these links can be found in the TOXNET FAQ "How do I create a link to the results when I search all the databases in TOXNET?" (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/toxnet_faq.html#searchall). Specific "chemical links" to records in a TOXNET database can also be created. For details, see the TOXNET FAQ "How do I create a link to a record in a TOXNET database?" (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/toxnet_faq.html#recordlink). TOXNET can also be accessed from a Web browser on a PDA device with a network connection (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/pda/).
The Household Products Database
The Household Products Database (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/) is a consumer guide that provides information on the potential health effects of chemicals contained in more than 7,000 common household products used inside and around the home.
This resource helps scientists and consumers learn about ingredients in brand-name products. It contains information about the chemicals contained in specific brands and in what percentage, which products contain specific chemicals, who manufactures a specific brand, how the manufacturer can be contacted, the potential adverse health effects (acute and chronic) of the ingredients in a specific brand, and other information that is available about such chemicals in the toxicology-related databases of the National Library of Medicine.
The record for each product shows the ingredients as reported in the manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and includes other information such as handling, disposal and health effects. For more technical information from other NLM resources, users can launch a search for a product or ingredient in NLM’s TOXNET® (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov) from the "Product" page in the database. Users can also search NLM’s PubMed from the "Chemical Information Page" to find effects of the chemicals to humans in the published biomedical literature.
The Dietary Supplements Labels Database
The Dietary Supplements Labels Database (http://dietarysupplements.nlm.nih.gov/dietary/aboutUs.jsp) contains information on the ingredients of over 2,000 brands of dietary supplements sold in the United States. Information in the Dietary Supplements Labels Database (the database) is from a variety of publicly available sources including brand-specific labels and information from manufacturers' Web sites. The database consolidates and centralizes consumer-oriented information about dietary supplements that is available from many sources so that consumers can make informed decisions about supplements. It provides direct links to pertinent health information, fact sheets, research findings and on-going clinical studies at the National Institutes of Health.
The Dietary Supplements Labels Database provides information on the ingredients shown on labels of specific brands, which brands claim to contain specific chemical ingredients, what fraction of daily recommended nutrients is provided by a specific brand, inactive ingredients in each brand, which brands do not contain animal products, studies that indicate the proven medical benefits of specific ingredients, the toxicity of specific ingredients, who manufactures a specific brand and how they can be contacted, and what other information is available about chemicals in the toxicology-related databases of the National Library of Medicine. Users can also compare the amount of a specific nutrient between brands.
Tox Town
Tox Town (http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov) is an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances, your health and the environment. Tox Town helps users explore a town, city, farm, U.S.-Mexico border area or port community to identify common environmental hazards. It uses neighborhood in these settings, along with color, graphics, sounds and animation, to add interest to learning about connections between chemicals, the environment and the public’s health. Tox Town’s target audience is high school, college and graduate students, educators and the interested public.
Each neighborhood is toured by selecting “Location” or “Chemical” links. For example, a user can click on the hospital in the City scene for a list of chemicals that might be found in a hospital and a list of resources about environmental concerns for hospital patients and staff. A user can click on a chemical, like mercury, to see where it might be found in a neighborhood and to learn more about it. Cutaway views give an inside look at a school, a home, and other buildings for more detail.
Tox Town also offers some resources en español (http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol/).
TOXMAP
TOXMAP (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov) is an interactive mapping site which helps users explore the geographic distribution of certain chemical releases, their relative amounts, and their trends over time. Its data is derived from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) (http://www.epa.gov/tri/) and Superfund Programs (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/index.htm).
TOXMAP helps users create nationwide, regional, or local area maps showing where TRI chemicals are released on-site into the air, water, and ground. It also identifies the releasing facilities, color-codes release amounts for a single year or year range, and provides multi-year aggregate chemical release data and trends over time, starting with 1987.
TOXMAP can be also used to find information about Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites and substances. The Superfund program (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/index.htm) is part of a federal government effort to clean up land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the EPA (http://www.epa.gov/) as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or to the environment.
The substances found at Superfund sites have been designated as causing or contributing to an increase in mortality or in irreversible or incapacitating illness, or posing a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or to the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. More than 800 (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/er/hazsubs/cercsubs.htm) substances are currently designated as hazardous, and many more as potentially hazardous.
TOXMAP provides mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), as well as age and gender data from the US Census, and income data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
TOXMAP links to NLM's extensive collection of toxicology and environmental health references, as well as to a rich resource of data on hazardous chemical substances in its TOXNET databases (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/). The resource also provides fact sheets and summaries about the chemicals, written by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and EPA progress reports on the Superfund sites.
Because many users may not be experienced in reading maps or understanding map data, TOXMAP provides a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/help/faq.jsp) and a "Glossary of Terms" (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/help/glossary.jsp). Both resources attempt to provide questions/answers to supplement the user's ability to understand the map displays and the data. More information about TOXMAP can be found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/toxmap.html.
HazMap
Haz-Map (http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov) is an occupational health database designed for health and safety professionals and for consumers seeking information about the health effects of exposure to chemicals and biologicals at work. Haz-Map links jobs and hazardous tasks with occupational diseases and their symptoms.
Chemicals and biological agents in Haz-Map are linked to industrial processes and other activities such as hobbies. Occupational diseases and their symptoms are associated with hazardous job tasks and possible exposure to hazardous agents. Information from textbooks, journal articles, and electronic databases such as NLM's Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB®) is classified and summarized to create the database. HSDB is part of the TOXNET® (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov) system of databases related to toxicology and environmental health.
HazMap also provides images of certain skin lesions and X-rays for some diseases.
LactMed
LactMed (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT),is one of the newest additions to the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) TOXNET system. It provides information on drugs and lactation.
Geared to the health care practitioner and nursing mother, LactMed contains over 450 drug records. It includes information such as maternal drug levels in breast milk, infant levels in blood, potential effects in breastfeeding infants and on lactation itself, the American Academy of Pediatrics category indicating the level of compatibility of the drug with breastfeeding, and alternate drugs to consider. References are included, as is nomenclature information, such as the drug’s Chemical Abstract Service’s (CAS) Registry number and its broad drug class.
LactMed was developed by a pharmacist who is an expert in this subject area. Three other recognized authorities serve as the database’s scientific review panel. Ancillary resources, such as a glossary of terms related to drugs and lactation, and breastfeeding links are also offered. LactMed can be searched together with TOXNET’s other databases in a multi-database environment, to obtain additional relevant information about drugs. As a work in progress, LactMed will continue to expand, as well as be enhanced with other substances, such as industrial chemicals and radiation.
ChemIDplus
ChemIDplus (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?CHEM) is a free, Web-based search system that provides access to structure and nomenclature authority files used for the identification of chemical substances cited in National Library of Medicine databases, including the TOXNET® system. ChemIDplus also provides structure searching and direct links to many biomedical resources at NLM and on the Internet for chemicals of interest. The database contains over 400,000 chemical records, of which over 280,000 include chemical structures. It is searchable by Name, Synonym, CAS Registry Number, Molecular Formula, Classification Code, Locator Code, Structure, and/or Biological/Chemical properties.
There are two versions of this database: ChemIDplus Lite (http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp) version is available for simplified Name and RN searching without the need for plugins or applets. ChemIDplus Advanced (http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidheavy.jsp) allows various search capabilities beyond the Lite version including chemical structure and biological/chemical property searching.
WISER
WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders) (http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov) is a system designed to assist first responders in hazardous material incidents. WISER provides a wide range of information on hazardous substances, including substance identification support, physical characteristics, human health information, and containment and suppression guidance. It available on the Palm, Pocket PC, and Microsoft Windows™ platforms, and on Windows Mobile Smartphones. A Web-based WISER (WebWISER) is also available, supporting Web browsers for both PCs and PDAs, including BlackBerry (http://webwiser.nlm.nih.gov).
When handling hazardous material incidents, first responders in general, and Hazmat (hazardous materials) units in particular, must make many decisions quickly. They need accurate information about the hazardous substances, the emergency resources available, and the surrounding environmental conditions. WISER can assist in identification of an unknown substance and, once the substance is identified, provide guidance on immediate actions necessary to save lives and protect the environment.
WISER provides rapid access to the most important information about a hazardous substance; comprehensive decision support, including assistance in identification of an unknown substance and, once the substance is identified, guidance on immediate actions necessary to save lives and protect the environment; access to the National Library of Medicine's Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB®), which contains detailed peer-reviewed information on hazardous substances; and an intuitive, simple, and logical user interface developed by working with experienced first responders.
Stay Informed: Join NLM’s NLM-Tox-Enviro-Health-L
NLM-Tox-Enviro-Health-L (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/envirolistserv.html) is an e-mail announcements-only list available from the National Library of Medicine's Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS). The purpose of the announcement list is to broadcast updates on SIS's resources, services, and outreach in toxicology and environmental health.
SIS RSS Feed Available
SIS also offers RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds of its News page (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/news.html). RSS is a Web standard for sharing and distributing news and other frequently updated content provided by Web sites. The SIS feed address is http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/rss/sisnewsfeed.rss.
The SIS News feed will keep you informed about new resources and updates to NLM/SIS databases, and alert you to scientific meetings at which SIS will have exhibits, presentations, or classes.
An RSS reader, also called an aggregator, is required to use this service on your computer. There are many RSS readers from which to choose and many are available to download free from the Web. They offer a variety of functions; each has its own advantages. Instructions for adding the Division of Specialized Information Services News RSS feed to your reader are available at http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/sisrssfeed.html.
Quick Tour
Now you can also learn about NLM’s environmental health and toxicology resources via a four minute "Quick Tour" (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/captivate/tehipoverview.htm). The tour provides an overview of several environmental health and toxicology resources including Tox Town, the Household Products database, TOXNET, TOXMAP, and ChemIDplus. It is available from the Environmental Health and Toxicology portal (http://tox.nlm.nih.gov). Macromedia Flash Player is required (http://adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash&promoid=BIOW).