Search for Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances?

TOPIC: Summary information is frequently needed to determine the toxic effects of chemical substances. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS®) (File 336) is a major database that summarizes compiled toxicological information. It provides basic toxicity information for frequently used household and industrial chemical substances, such as drugs, food additives, pesticides, solvents, chemical wastes and more.

The RTECS data consists of the lowest dose reported to have caused the listed toxic effect in the designated species by the designated route of administration. The database is oriented toward the United States and was once known as the Toxic Substances List. Here, as in The Merck Index Online (File 304), which is a detailed source of monographs for many commonly used chemicals, a simple VISUAL EXPAND on the Chemical Name (NA=) field will find the unique compound record. The RTECS data is recorded in the format developed by the RTECS staff and arranged in alphabetical order by prime chemical name.

Six types of toxicity data are included in the file: (1) primary irritation; (2) mutagenic effects; (3) reproductive effects; (4) tumorigenic effects; (5) toxicity; and (6) other multiple dose toxicity. Specific numeric toxicity values such as LD50, LC50, TDLo, and TCLo are noted, as well as species studied and route of administration used. For each citation, the bibliographic source is listed thereby enabling the user to access the actual studies cited. Journals are identified by their CODEN which are unique, six-character codes that identify serial and nonserial publications produced worldwide. No attempt has been made to evaluate the studies cited in RTECS. The user has the responsibility of making such assessments.

Searches of the primary literature must also be done to determine updated values. See “How Do I Use the MAP Command to Begin a Basic Toxicology Search?”

In this search we will search for the chemical Cumene in two files. The first search in RTECS illustrates the comprehensive toxicity data you can retrieve. In the second search, you see that The Merck Index Online also has toxicity references, as well as other information about the chemical.

COMMAND SUMMARY

BEGIN 336
VISUAL EXPAND NA=CUMENE
Check the appropriate chemical and click Select
TYPE S1/2/1
BEGIN 304
VISUAL EXPAND NA=CUMENE
Check the appropriate chemical and click Select
TYPE S1/9/1

HOW TO...

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Stock #: 53501; Last modified: 14 Sep 2011

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