Toxicology Information On-Line

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has its own data systems network. Under NLM s MEDLARS program, a number of data bases on toxicological and health effects of chemical substances are now available. One very useful data base is TOXLINE, which stands for Toxicology Information On-Line. Full information on TOXLINE and other data bases within the NLM MEDLARS program can be obtained by contacting MEDLARS Management Section, Specialized Information Services, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20209 [(301) 496-6193], or (800) 638-8480. 

TOXLINE (Toxicology Information on-LINE) Is an extensive collection of computerized toxicology Information with over 425,000 references (as of 1978) to published human and animal toxicity studies, effects of environmental chemicals and pollutants, and adverse drug reactions. TOXLINE covers the published literature from 1974 forward. Older Information (380,000 references) can be found in TOXBACK, which is searchable in an offline mode. 

Wexler, P. 2001. TOXNET An envolving web resource for toxicology and environment health information, [on line]. [2009-01-20]. URL ... 

TOXLINE (non-royalty based) Toxicology Information Online National Library of Medicine 8600 Roekville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894 (301) 496-1131 On-line bibliographic database covering the pharmacological, physiological, and toxicological effects of drugs and chemicals. Information is taken from eleven secondary sources. 

In the last decade, for many toxicologists the on-line literature search has changed from an occasional, sporadic activity to a semicontinuous need. Usually, nontoxicology-related search capabilities are already in place in many companies. Therefore, all that is needed is to expand the information source to include some of the data bases that cover the types of toxicology information one desires. However, if no capabilities exist within an organization, one can approach a university, consultant, or a private contract laboratory and utilize their on-line system at a reasonable rate. It is even possible to access most of these sources from home using a personal computer. The major available on-line data bases are described in the following. 

Along these lines, other test systems in combination with concentration methods were developed and applied. Although most chemicals have been introduced into the environment in ways that did not result in immediate effects on the environment, the total load of chemical pollutants has certainly contributed to observed changes in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. We now rely on aquatic toxicology to give reliable and proper information on the possible effects of man-made chemicals. This information enables the protection of aquatic ecosystems and, in particular, provides for the required scientific guidance in legislation and enforcement. 

What I would really like to see as a bottom line is to deal with those volatile compounds that are usually poorly concentrated by most concentration methods on the basis of what you know about them. That s where the bulk of the toxicological information is available already. You can do a combined experiment using those, if you like, if you can t deal with them on the basis of what you know about them... 

Large abstracting facilities employ automated methods in the retrieval and transfer of information. A list of on-line computer systems containing bibliographies that include toxicology information is given in Table 9. 

Secondary information sources (on-line computer systems) containing toxicological information... 

This contains on-line information and bibliographic citations on the toxicological, pharmacological, biochemical, and physiological effects of drugs and chemicals. 

Toxicology Data Bank is another on-line interactive retrieval system offered by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) as part of the MEDLARS family of data bases. It provides information on 2500 chemical substances, extracted from 80 reference books and journals. 

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