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NLM TECHNICAL BULLETIN - MAY 85 TOXNET: THE NEW NLM TOXICOLOGY DATA NETWORK Bruno M. Vasta Philip Wexler Specialized Information Services, NLM The Toxicology Information Program, operated by NLM's Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS), is reaching the final stages of implementing two data banks in the broad areas of toxicology, chemistry and hazardous waste information, as the first components of the Library's new Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) data retrieval system. One file is an expanded version of the Toxicology Data Bank (TDB) currently in ELHILL, and retains the TDB name. The second file, known as the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), is a broader, more comprehensive file initially containing the entire TDB content. Both of these files are maintained on a Data General Eclipse minicomputer and will be accesstble to domestic MEDLARS users on the TOXNET system as of July 1, 1985. The TOXNET system will operate in parallel with the ELHILL system under MEDLARS. TDB and HSDB on TOXNET Initially, the Library had planned to offer TDB with the CERCLA-related enhancements on a single database, replacing the original TDB. For various reasons it was found preferable to offer two files, both to start with information on the same 4,100 chemicals. One is the NLM-supported TDB with 96 data elements; the other is the new HSDB with 144 data elements. The data elements (or fields) in both files are arranged in the following'ten broad categories (see Unit Record Descriptions, Figures 1 and 2 on pages 10 and 11): ID Substance Identification MANF Manufacturing/Use Information CPP Chemical and Physical Properties SAFE Safety and Handling TOXB Toxicity/Biomedical Effects PHCY Pharmacology ENEX Environmental Fate/Exposure Potential EXSR Exposure Standards and Regulations MAM Monitoring and Analysis Methods REFS Additional References Data elements within each of these categories may contain one or more occurrences of data or, possibly, no data, if none are available. Users familiar with the ELHILL TDB should note that the TOXNET TDB will- continue to focus upon toxicological information and maintain a high degree of quality control through review by a committee of experts. The scope of HSDB includes and expands upon that of the TDB by providing fuller information primarily in the areas of environmental fate and exposure, standards and regulations, monitoring and analysis, and safety and handling. Data are extracted not only from the materials on the TDB source list but also from a variety of other sources, including Government documents and special reports. This more comprehensive file (HSDB) will be scientifically reviewed and edited, but short of the detailed peer review of TDB.