MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS AND CHEMICAL  INFORMATION RESOURCES

Introduction

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is an informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical that describes its physical and chemical properties, its physical and hazards and recommended precautions for handling, storage and disposal. Click here to get Information on How to Read MSDS.

Below are several links to MSDS databases and other toxicological and hazard resources. If you are unable to find an MSDS for a particular material, contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s name and other contact information can normally be found on the container label. If you are still unable to find an MSDS, contact the EHS Industrial Hygienist assigned to your division for assistance.

MSDS Resources:

ChemWatch (chemFFX) Material Safety Datasheets:

This is an extensive database with millions of MSDSs.  It is provided to LBNL and the UC campuses by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP).   To access this site, you must be connected through a recognized LBNL or UC campus computer.  To start a search, click on the above link to open the application. Type the chemical name, CAS number, or product or vendor name in the search screen and then use the buttons on the left side of the screen to select the database you wish to search.  “Gold MSDSs” are independently researched and the “Vendors MSDSs” are prepared by manufacturers and vendors such as Sigma Aldrich. Be sure to clear previous searches before starting a new one.   You can also access these MSDSs directly from the LBNL Chemical Management System. 

MSDSs for Janitorial and Household Products (e.g., cleaners, sorbents, disinfectants)  

MSDS-Search
This has links to several major online MSDS databases

Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated (ILPI)
This site contains several MSDS databases

Toxicological Databases, Carcinogen Lists, Chemical Fact Sheets and Other Chemical Safety Information Sites:

UCOP Provided Resources 

This has other useful toxicological databases and resources including Micromedix TOMESTM, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and EPA Chemical Fact Sheets.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

This has a list of carcinogens.  IARC evaluates the carcinogenicity of chemicals and ranks their carcinogenic potential. Chemicals with IARC classifications of: 1, 2A and 2B are considered by OSHA to be carcinogenic.  Click on the link entitled:  “List of classifications by alphabetical order” for an easy to use list of carcinogens.  Other search options are available.

National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens

This has a list of carcinogens.  Chemicals with NTP classifications of either: “A” - Known Human Carcinogens, or “B” - Reasonably Anticipated Human Carcinogens, are considered by OSHA to be carcinogenic.  Click on the link entitled “11th RoC” on the left hand Table of Contents, and follow the links to Human Carcinogens.

ChemFinder
This is a database from Cambridgesoft listing chemical and physical properties of chemicals.

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
This presents key safety and health information including Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) airborne concentrations for several hundred chemicals. Entries are organized in an easy-to-read format. 

NIOSH/OSHA/DOE Health Guidelines
These guidelines provide summaries on the hazards and controls for approximately 150 chemicals.  Links to other sources of hazard information are provided. 

American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Safety Committee
This has a compilation of laboratory safety incidents and has links to other sites.