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What kinds of substances are in RTECS®?
Generally RTECS® includes drugs, food additives, preservatives, ores,
pesticides, dyes, detergents, lubricants, soaps, plastics, extracts from
plant and animal sources, plants and animals which are toxic by contact
or consumption, and industrial intermediates and waste products from
production processes. Users will not find Trade Name products
representing compounded or formulated mixtures (pure chemical trade name
products are listed).
There is a lot of detailed data in RTECS®. Is there
a guide to the database where I can learn more about how to use and
interpret this information?
The HELP system on the RTECS® CD-ROM includes a publication called
"RTECS® - A Comprehensive Guide". This document provides information
about format, content and policies of the Registry. It can help users to
understand the meaning behind the content of each record (eg. the "Mild"
category for the Skin Irritation tests means a well defined erythema and
slight edema (edges of area well defined by definite raising) and the
reason for its inclusion.
What is the difference between RTECS® and HSDB?
RTECS® contains toxicity and regulatory information on over 150,000
chemicals, while HSDB has a wider range of subject coverage (over 100
fields) such as medical surveillance, first aid, emergency response,
safety measures, health hazards, etc. for 4,500 chemicals. RTECS® is a
better choice if you need toxicity information on a very large number of
chemicals, but HSDB is better if you need safety and other related
details.
Please contact CCOHS Client Services if you have further questions about these products and services.
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