-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Wed, Mar 30, 2016 2:30 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Spring Cleaning? National Library of Medicine Household Products Database can help

> >Your best bet is to go to a company's website and obtain the latest Product SDS.
>
I've been thinking lately about whether a SDS is in fact the "best bet".

While Mike is correct in reminding us that the information on any web site has to be critically reviewed (particularly ones that appear to be built around traditional MSDSs rather than GHS SDSs), it's not clear to me that either form of SDS's will answer the questions that the public, students, chemists or safety professionals will have about specific chemicals. These audiences will have different concerns and literacy levels about chemicals and the mix of raw data and safety jargon-based warnings on SDSs are not necessarily going to serve any one of those purposes.

One virtue of the Household Products web site is that there is a list of FAQs
https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/faq.htm
that clarifies some of these points with regard to the information they are supplying.

However, when it comes to SDS's, we need to rely on other sources of education and information to support critical analysis of the information. One aid in this regard is the MSDS hyperglossary at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ilpi.com_msds&d=CwIFAg&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=xE2uNclsLtMv7JD_dwPOcCxYctNeItnHLpU6Wg4ZVNg&s=zNGPBwfwXz32wptmS4C8dCcfb8uC0SbId_0SHRYqjcM&e= and associated MS-Demystifier at
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ilpi.com_msds_ref_demystify.html&d=CwIFAg&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=xE2uNclsLtMv7JD_dwPOcCxYctNeItnHLpU6Wg4ZVNg&s=PLvjRiPZziFG4MGn1xnFcnFApMeKitjIcAZxJvJf-JE&e=
but absorbing this information is not a casual undertaking...

It's an interesting challenge as interest in chemical hazards continues to grow.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu