Toxic Chemicals
There is information about safety, poisons, toxins, carcinogens, testing procedures, regulations. Learn how to recognize hazardous substances and avoid laboratory accidents. Links to toxic chemical journals and software are included.
Common Household Chemicals - Dangerous Mixtures
Labs have lists of chemicals that don't go together, but it isn't as easy to avoid dangerous mixtures with home chemicals because they aren't pure substances. Here's some help. Be safe and don't mix these common household chemicals.
Labs have lists of chemicals that don't go together, but it isn't as easy to avoid dangerous mixtures with home chemicals because they aren't pure substances. Here's some help. Be safe and don't mix these common household chemicals.
What Is the Most Poisonous Chemical Compound?
How poisonous something is depends a lot on how it's administered and a several other factors, but this list will give you a general look at some of the most toxic substances known to man.
How poisonous something is depends a lot on how it's administered and a several other factors, but this list will give you a general look at some of the most toxic substances known to man.
Chemical Weapons and Warfare Agents
Get basic information about chemical weapons and learn what you can do to protect yourself in the event of a chemical attack.
Get basic information about chemical weapons and learn what you can do to protect yourself in the event of a chemical attack.
DEET Chemistry
Learn about the insect repellent called DEET. See its chemical structure, find out how it works, get information about the risks of using DEET, and find out how to reduce your need for bug spray.
Learn about the insect repellent called DEET. See its chemical structure, find out how it works, get information about the risks of using DEET, and find out how to reduce your need for bug spray.
Do You Add Sulfuric Acid to Water or Water to Sulfuric Acid?
It's important to add sulfuric acid to water and not water to concentrated sulfuric acid. Here's an explanation of why you don't want to make a mistake and some mnemonics that might help you remember how to play it safe in the chemistry lab.
It's important to add sulfuric acid to water and not water to concentrated sulfuric acid. Here's an explanation of why you don't want to make a mistake and some mnemonics that might help you remember how to play it safe in the chemistry lab.
Flame Retardant People
Learn about the health effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), a common flame retardant, and efforts to ban further use of certain forms of the chemical.
Learn about the health effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), a common flame retardant, and efforts to ban further use of certain forms of the chemical.
Incompatible Chemical Mixtures
Here's a list of chemicals that you don't want to accidentally mix, together with brief statements about the expected reactions. Use this information to avoid accidents and ensure safe storage and handling of potentially dangerous substances, both at work and at home.
Here's a list of chemicals that you don't want to accidentally mix, together with brief statements about the expected reactions. Use this information to avoid accidents and ensure safe storage and handling of potentially dangerous substances, both at work and at home.
Ricin and RCA - Castor Bean Toxins
Learn about ricin and RCA, the two potent toxins from the castor bean plant. Information is provided about the action, symptoms, and treatment of ricin and RCA poisoning.
Learn about ricin and RCA, the two potent toxins from the castor bean plant. Information is provided about the action, symptoms, and treatment of ricin and RCA poisoning.
Using Material Safety Data Sheets
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) aren't just for chemists! From your About Chemistry Guide, this tutorial for the non-technical consumer defines MSDSs, describes why you should know how to use them, tells how to find them, and outlines typical uses. Links to related topics are included.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) aren't just for chemists! From your About Chemistry Guide, this tutorial for the non-technical consumer defines MSDSs, describes why you should know how to use them, tells how to find them, and outlines typical uses. Links to related topics are included.
What Is Bleach and How Does It Work?
Learn what a bleach is, get examples of different types, and find out how bleach works.
Learn what a bleach is, get examples of different types, and find out how bleach works.
What Is the Coastal Dead Zone?
The coastal dead zone makes news headlines from time to time because it's implicated in fish death and may be a consequence of global warming and pollution. Do you know what the dead zone is?
The coastal dead zone makes news headlines from time to time because it's implicated in fish death and may be a consequence of global warming and pollution. Do you know what the dead zone is?
What Is the World's Most Venomous Insect?
The most venomous insect isn't some rare, exotic rain forest creature. You may have them in your own yard. Can you name guess what it is?
The most venomous insect isn't some rare, exotic rain forest creature. You may have them in your own yard. Can you name guess what it is?
What Makes Lead Poisonous?
You probably know that lead is toxic, but do you know what makes it poisonous? Here's an explanation of what lead does in your body that makes it such a health hazard.
You probably know that lead is toxic, but do you know what makes it poisonous? Here's an explanation of what lead does in your body that makes it such a health hazard.
Chemical Weapons
See the chemical structures of chemical weapons and warfare agents and learn a little about their uses.
See the chemical structures of chemical weapons and warfare agents and learn a little about their uses.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Hazardous substances summaries from an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Hazardous substances summaries from an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Abstracts and Tables of Contents.
Abstracts and Tables of Contents.
Australian Venom and Toxin Database
Terrestrial and marine vertebrates and invertebrates.
Terrestrial and marine vertebrates and invertebrates.
Bad Bug Book
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that discharge toxic materials. From the Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration.
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that discharge toxic materials. From the Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration.
Botanical Dermatology Database
Plant families manufacturing toxic or irritating chemicals.
Plant families manufacturing toxic or irritating chemicals.
Carcinogenic Potency Database
Summary of animal test results for chemicals yielding carcinogenic changes in a target organ.
Summary of animal test results for chemicals yielding carcinogenic changes in a target organ.
Chemical and Other Safety Information
Material safety data sheets (MSDS), incompatible chemicals, and hazardous materials. From University of Oxford.
Material safety data sheets (MSDS), incompatible chemicals, and hazardous materials. From University of Oxford.
DAIN Metadatabase
A search engine for environmental chemical databases. From Kristina Voigt and Joachim Benz.
A search engine for environmental chemical databases. From Kristina Voigt and Joachim Benz.
Envirofacts
Information relating to air pollution, drinking water, hazardous waste, etc. From the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Information relating to air pollution, drinking water, hazardous waste, etc. From the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Experiment and theory. Requires paid subscription.
Experiment and theory. Requires paid subscription.
Chemical Information Page
Extensive databases include general chemicals, drugs, and environmental hazards. Visualization of structures requires Chime plug-in. From Specialized Information Services, US National Library of Medicine.
Extensive databases include general chemicals, drugs, and environmental hazards. Visualization of structures requires Chime plug-in. From Specialized Information Services, US National Library of Medicine.
EXTOXNET
Search for pesticides and other toxins.
Search for pesticides and other toxins.
Hazardous Chemical Database
Searches retrieve synonyms, physical data, registry numbers, etc. From University of Akron.
Searches retrieve synonyms, physical data, registry numbers, etc. From University of Akron.
Health & Safety Manual
Guidelines in using hazardous materials. From Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Guidelines in using hazardous materials. From Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Injuries in School/College Laboratories
Discussion of legal liability and negligence in relation to US law. From Ronald B. Standler.
Discussion of legal liability and negligence in relation to US law. From Ronald B. Standler.
Interactive Learning Paradigms, Incorporated
A complete source for MSDS information. Also, see their MSDS HyperGlossary for symbols used in laboratory safety.
A complete source for MSDS information. Also, see their MSDS HyperGlossary for symbols used in laboratory safety.
Laboratory Survival Manual
Chemical incompatibilities, first aid, safety practices. From University of Virginia.
Chemical incompatibilities, first aid, safety practices. From University of Virginia.
MSDS-Search
Information concerning Material Safety Data Sheets including databases, manufacturers, and software.
Information concerning Material Safety Data Sheets including databases, manufacturers, and software.
National Toxicology Program
Research and testing of toxic materials. Also, see their NTP Study Databases for known toxic substances or those under study. From the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Research and testing of toxic materials. Also, see their NTP Study Databases for known toxic substances or those under study. From the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Safe Drinking Water Query Form
From US EPA. Search the US for violators of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
From US EPA. Search the US for violators of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Scorecard
Search for profiles on mass-produced chemicals in the US, and receive a wealth of information concerning toxicity and regulations. From the Environmental Defense Fund.
Search for profiles on mass-produced chemicals in the US, and receive a wealth of information concerning toxicity and regulations. From the Environmental Defense Fund.
SolvDB
Detailed solvent database from National Center for Manufacturing Sciences.
Detailed solvent database from National Center for Manufacturing Sciences.
Suburban Water Testing Labs
Factsheets concerning contaminants present in drinking water and recommended testing methods.
Factsheets concerning contaminants present in drinking water and recommended testing methods.
Toxic Agents in Plants
Descriptions of compounds and their effects upon animals. From Cornell University.
Descriptions of compounds and their effects upon animals. From Cornell University.
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
News and requirements for registering, handling, and disposing of radioactive materials.
News and requirements for registering, handling, and disposing of radioactive materials.
Vermont SIRI MSDS
An MSDS archive. Also, a good index of graphics depicting safe science. From Vermont Safety Information on the Internet.
An MSDS archive. Also, a good index of graphics depicting safe science. From Vermont Safety Information on the Internet.