The ECHA is a Valuable Source of Chemical Safety Information

Often users, managers and industrial hygienists want to know the hazards associated with the chemicals that they use. There are many resources available for information on chemical hazards, including governmental and private sources. One of the more comprehensive sources is the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). The ECHA provides a lot of information in a relatively simple to use format; but this database is not widely known on this side of the Atlantic.

The ECHA has the goal to be the preeminent source for chemical safety information in the world. This agency was created under the European Union’s REACH program. REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances and went into law June 2007. Manufacturers and importers are required to gather information, including safety information, on the chemicals they manufacture, and to provide it to the ECHA which in turn provides public access to this information via an on-line searchable database. This database is a great resource for anyone looking to find safety information about chemicals commonly used in the workplace. Using peracetic acid (PAA) as an example, the ECHA search engine for hazardous chemicals is available at http://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/information-on-chemicals/registered-substances. Simple enter “peracetic” into the search line and click on the disclaimer box brings up a link to the dossier for PAA. Click on view to access the information. The information is divided into nine general categories:

    General Information

    Classification and Labelling

    Manufacture, Use & Exposure

    Physical and chemical properties

    Environmental fate and pathways

    Ecotoxicological Information

    Toxicological information

    Guidance on safe use

    Reference substances

For those people who want more general information, the Guidance on Safe Use Section provides general advice on using PAA, first aid measures, labels, exposure levels (for acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide) etc.

For those people who want more detail, for example information on research conducted on the chemical safety aspects of a particular compound, this level of information, chemical compatibility, is also available. Clicking on Toxicological Information generates the following submenu:

    Toxicological information.001

    Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution

    Acute Toxicity

    Irritation / corrosion

    Sensitisation

    Repeated dose toxicity

    Genetic toxicity

    Carcinogenicity

    Toxicity to reproduction

Selecting Acute Toxicity

    Acute toxicity: oral

    Acute toxicity: inhalation

    Acute toxicity: dermal

    Acute toxicity: other routes

The Acute Toxicity Inhalation section gives a list of 14 summaries of research studies on the acute inhalation toxicity of PAA. The long menu structures above are included in order to give an idea of how much information is available at this website.

This website offers a lot of safety information in summary form that is easy to use for the individual who just needs general guidance, but the website also has a lot of other information for those people who need more detail.