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Subject: Re: MSDS Online
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:20:31 -0400
Author: Vaiju.Bagal**At_Symbol_Here**EMDCHEMICALS.COM 		Next by Date:
Subject: Chemical Safety headlines from Google
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:11:03 -0400
Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety"


Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:10:43 EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Subject: Re: Fwd: COMMERCIAL: Free GHS Webinar

In a message dated 4/22/2010 7:10:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Alvaldenio**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM writes:


Define GHS!

GHS = Globbally Harmonized System for labeling and Safety Data Sheets developed by the UN in cooperation with many countries including the US but spearheaded by the Germans.  The system is now accepted by the European Union and many other countries.  OSHA proposed last September to convert our MSDSs to GHS SDSs.  EPA, DOT and CPSC are all in the process of attempting to adopt the GHS for labeling. 

I just taught a class on this in Amsterdam and another here in the US for my scenic artists.  In the course in NYC, I used the GHS format and two MSDSs from Sigma-Aldrich to illustrate the difference between the old and the new data sheets.  The Sigma-Aldrich data sheets from 2010 use most of the GHS format.  This format has blanks for various toxicity tests required under GHS.  You can just look down the blanks and see the either the test results or the words "no data available" which quickly shows when tests have not been done.  The only thing Sigma-Aldrich does the old way is that dumb line about not being listed by IARC when instead, they should say that there is "no data available."

I'm so enthused about finally being able to easily demonstrate how few chemicals have been tested, especially for chronic hazards, even when they are in suspect classes.  Students and workers need to know that their chemical's hazards are mostly unknown.

Monona Rossol

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