National Library of Medicine about SIS Contact SIS search SIS SIS banner and link home National Library of Medicine
SIS Banner
TOXNET Frequently Asked Questions  
Tox. & Env. Health TOXNET FAQ

About the databases

Searching/Linking/Printing

Finding and managing bibliographic references

Obtaining TOXNET data

ChemIDplus

Household Products Database

Miscellaneous
  1. About the databases
    1. What is the Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP)?
    2. What is TOXNET?
    3. What years do the TOXNET databases cover?
    4. How often are the TOXNET databases updated?
    5. What is the difference between "TOXLINE Core" and "TOXLINE Special"?
  1. Searching/Linking/Printing
    1. How do I create a link to perform a "canned" search in TOXNET?
    2. How do I create a link to a record in a TOXNET database?
    3. How do I get information about a medical condition/disease?
    4. Does TOXNET include information on prescription and nonprescription drugs?
    5. What additional drug information resources are provided by NLM?
    6. How do I limit my TOXLINE search by TOXLINE components, year?
    7. How do I print my TOXNET search results?
    8. What is a "cookie" and does TOXNET use "cookies"?
    9. In what order are the citations displayed in TOXNET, and can I sort my results?
    10. How do I limit my retrieval in TOXNET to a specific date range, age group, language, type of article, etc.?
    11. How do I save my TOXNET search results?
    12. How can I store my TOXNET search strategy?
  1. Finding and managing bibliographic references
    1. How do I get the full-text articles I find referenced in my search results?
    2. Why isn't there a link to the full-text for the citation I've retrieved?
    3. How do I find a journal listed in a citation?
    4. How do I cite your databases as a source of information?
    5. How do I borrow a book?
    6. How do I find a library that can help me with health information?
    7. How do I import citations into my reference manager program?
    8. Where can I get a list of journals in TOXNET?
    9. Can an error in a citation be corrected?
  1. Obtaining TOXNET data
    1. How do I lease/license the TOXNET databases?
    2. I already lease a TOXNET database(s). Who do I contact if I have questions about the associated XML data?
    3. How often are the TOXNET databases updated on the FTP site for licensing?
  1. ChemIDplus
    1. What are the sources you use to create ChemIDplus, and how often is it updated?
    2. What is the difference between ChemIDplus "Lite" and "Advanced"?
    3. Why do I get a message about the Marvin Applet when I start ChemIDplus?
    4. Why do I get a warning about loading Java when I start ChemIDplus?
    5. How do I draw or edit with Chime and ISISDraw in ChemIDplus?
    6. How do I draw or edit structures with Marvin in ChemIDplus?
    7. How do I download a single structure Mol file in ChemIDplus?
    8. How do I view chemical structures in ChemIDplus?
  1. Household Products Database
    1. What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
    2. How do I find a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
    3. How do I locate a manufacturer of a chemical/product/medication?
    4. Who do I contact with a complaint about an unsatisfactory or unsafe household product?
    5. How can I find out where to purchase a household product?
  1. Miscellaneous
    1. What are the NLM Toxicology Tutorials and can I download them?
    2. Can I use TOXNET on my handheld device?
    3. Can you recommend a medical professional?
    4. Where can I find a job in the field of environmental health and toxicology?
    5. Where do I send a suggestion for a link on your web site?

FAQ Answers

About the databases

Question: What is the Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP)?

Answer: A complete explanation of the Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program can be found in the TEHIP fact sheet (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/tehipfs.html).

Question: What is TOXNET?

Answer: A complete explanation of TOXNET can be found in the TOXNET fact sheet (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/toxnetfs.html).

Question: What years do the TOXNET databases cover?

Answer: TOXLINE Core, TOXLINE Special and the DART database contain bibliographic citations dating from 1965 to present, however it is possible you may retrieve a few citations dating as far back as the 1940's.

Question: How often are the TOXNET databases updated?

Answer: TOXNET databases are updated when new information becomes available. Checks for new data are made at least once a week. To find out if a database has been updated, consult http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/help/toxnet_size.html

Return to top

Question: What is the difference between "TOXLINE Core" and "TOXLINE Special"?

Answer: The difference between TOXLINE Core and TOXLINE Special is explained in the TOXLINE fact sheet (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/toxlinfs.html).

Searching/Linking/Printing

Question: How do I create a link to perform a "canned" search in TOXNET?

Answer: The syntax for creating links is
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/r?dbs+<dbname>:<query>
where dbname can be: hsdb, iris, genetox, iter, ccris, toxline, dart, and query can be search terms, or boolean queries, or search terms in a specified field. All spaces should be replaced with a plus sign in the URL.

Return to top

Question: How do I create a link to a record in a TOXNET database?

Answer: To create a link for bibliographic databases, use the title of the record to link: The syntax is http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/r?dbs+<dbname>:@term+@na+"<title>"

Return to top

Question: Does TOXNET include information on prescription and nonprescription drugs?

Answer: Several databases within TOXNET include both prescription and nonprescription drug information: CCRIS, ChemIDplus, DART, GENE-TOX, HSDB, and TOXLINE. In all cases you may search a database using the chemical, generic or trade name of a drug. ChemIDplus is a good starting point because it links to all NLM databases that have information on a particular drug.

Question: What additional drug information resources are provided by NLM?

Answer: The National Library of Medicine has other databases with drug information that are of interest to health professionals, consumers and researchers. These include:

  • MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov) - a database of health information on over 700 diseases and medical conditions. Within each health topic, there is often a "Treatment" category with links to drug information. MedlinePlus also provides access to two proprietary drug information databases: MedMasterTM from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; and, USP Drug Information, Volume II, Advice for the Patient., from the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html).
  • MEDLINE/PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) - a bibliographic database of over 15 million citations to articles in the biomedical literature. This database is the foremost reference source available, and contains comprehensive coverage of scientific articles on drugs.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov) - a database of federally and privately supported clinical studies on drugs and other treatments under study for safe and effective treatment of a wide range of diseases and medical conditions.

Question: How do I print my TOXNET search results?

Answer: You can print TOXNET search results by using your browser´s Print function. Go to "File", and then select "Print".

You can also use the "Download" feature on TOXNET to get the search results in plain text format. These can then be printed.

Question: What is a "cookie" and does TOXNET use "cookies"?

Answer: A "cookie" is information sent by a Web site server (e.g., TOXNET) to your computer. TOXNET creates "session cookies" on the user's computer. These cookies last for the duration of the user's connection to TOXNET. The cookie contains information about each search so that the history utility can combine and display previous searches. TOXNET itself does not keep track of what searches a user has made; it only has files listing the results of those searches.

These temporary files are kept for no less than one hour and for no more than two hours. Each time a user requests a record from a search request, the results file is given a guarantee of one hour to live.

Question: In what order are the citations in TOXNET displayed, and can I sort my results?

Answer: The TOXNET search results are sorted in relevancy ranked order. If you want to sort the results in a different order, click on the "Sort" button on the left. For the bibliographic databases, the search results can be sorted by year of publication, title, author, entry month, or relevance. For the chemical databases, the results can be sorted by substance name.

Return to top

Question: How do I limit my retrieval in TOXNET to a specific date range, age group, language, type of article, etc.?

Answer: For bibliographic databases, the "Limits" feature limits retrieval by Year of Publication and language. Retrieval cannot be limited by age groups or types of articles in TOXNET.

Question: How do I limit my TOXLINE search by subfiles and year?

Answer: Use the "Limits" feature to limit the search by specific TOXLINE components (subfiles) and by Year of Publication.

Question: How do I save my TOXNET search results?

Answer: Use the "Download" feature to save the search results as plain text file. The "Download" search results feature is not available in ChemIDplus, Haz-Map, Household Products Database, and TOXMAP.

Question: How can I store my TOXNET search strategy?

Answer: At this time you cannot store search strategies, however, you can use the "History" feature to retrieve searches performed in the last hour.

Return to top
Finding and managing bibliographic references

Question: How do I get the full-text articles I find referenced in my search results?

Answer: There are several ways of getting a full-text article, depending on the type of article:

Journal Articles
  • If you are affiliated with a hospital or university library, check with that library to find out if they can supply the article.
  • If you are not affiliated with a hospital or university library, request a copy from your local library. Your library may be able to use Interlibrary Loan to get an article from a journal to which it does not subscribe.
  • If you do not have a local library you can use Loansome Doc, (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/loansomedoc/loansome_home.html), the document ordering feature for users of NLM services.
    • How do I register for Loansome Doc? Visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ldregister.html.
    • Search for a Loansome Doc provider in your area. For libraries in your area:
      • United States, contact a Regional Medical Library at 1-800-338-7657, Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM for libraries in your area providing Loansome Doc service.
      • Canada, contact the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) at 1-800-668-1222 for information about libraries in your area.
  • Limit your PubMed search to the toxicology subset. To limit a search, you can
    • add "tox[sb]" to your search strategy (no quotations)
      • E.g. benzene AND tox[sb]
      OR
    • Select "Limits" under the PubMed search box; then choose "toxicology" from the drop down menu.
    • NOTE: PubMed full-text iconPubMed full-text icon icons next to a citation indicate free access to the full-text article.

Other Materials

If you are unable to find a copy of an item at a library, it may be possible to purchase a copy. Note: Older materials may no longer be in print.

Citation Source:

  • CRISP Data Base (National Institutes of Health)
    • Database containing information on research projects and programs supported by the Department of Health and Human Services from 1974 - 2004
    • Visit the CRISP web site at http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/ to search for the citation.
    • You'll find an Expanded abstract plus Principal Investigator, Institution, Fiscal Year, Department, Project Start, and Project End
  • Government Reports Announcements & Index (GRA&I)
      • There is a fee to use this service
      • Full descriptive summaries of more than 2,000,000 titles NTIS has received from government agencies since 1964
  • IARC Monographs
  • WHO (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION)
Return to top

Question: Why isn't there a link to the full-text for the citation I've retrieved?

Answer: At present, there are no links to full-text articles in TOXNET because the structure of the databases is not based on journal articles as found in a database such as PubMed. The information is drawn from a variety of information sources which makes linking to full-text difficult. NLM is investigating methods of making the full-text available in the future. Note: Full-text access may be available for citations in TOXLINE or DART Core as found in PubMed.

Question: How do I find a journal listed in a citation?

Answer: This information will help you find a journal's title but does not link to full-text resources.

Many of the journals listed in TOXLINE can be found using the Entrez Journal database at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Journals.

NLM's LOCATORplus (http://locatorplus.gov/) can also be used to find journals.

The Library of Congress catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov/) can also be used.

Question: How do I cite the TOXNET databases as a source of information?

Answer:
  • Citations from TOXLINE and DART can follow either the journal article citation rules in the author instructions for a specific journal or your particular requirements.

    •
  • The citation format (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/formats/internet.pdf) preferred by NLM for the non-bibliographic data banks HSDB, IRIS, ITER, GENE-TOX, and CCRIS is shown below.
    • Format Template
      • MeSH Browser [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2001- [updated 2001 Apr 5; cited 2001 Apr 10]. Meta-analysis; unique ID: D015201; [about 3 p.]. Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/MBrowser.html
    • Your citation
      • Hazardous Substances Data Bank [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [Last Revision Date ????; cited 2004 Oct 7]. Dimethyl Isosorbide; Hazardous Substances Databank Number: ???; [about # screens]. Available from: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB
      • The Last Revision Date can be found at the end of an HSDB record which contains administrative information, including last revision date.
Return to top

Question: How do I borrow a book?

Answer: Check your local library's catalog to see if the book is available. If the book is not owned by the library, you can borrow the book from the National Library of Medicine.

To borrow a book from NLM:
  1. Use the NLM Catalog to verify that NLM carries the book.
  2. After locating the book, ask your local library to send an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request to NLM. Contact your library for information on its ILL services and fees.

Question: How do I find a library that can help me with health information?

Answer: The National Library of Medicine maintains the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), a network of health science libraries and information centers throughout the United States. NN/LM can help you locate a public or health library that can assist you in your search. Visit "Looking for Health Information?" (http://nnlm.gov/hip/) to find a library. Some libraries may charge a fee for photocopies or services.

Return to top

Question: How do I import citations into my reference management program?

Answer: Only citations from TOXLINE Special, TOXLINE Core, DART Special, and DART Core can be imported into reference management programs, such as ProCite, Reference Manager, and EndNote. Results from HSDB, IRIS, ITER, CCRIS, GENE-TOX, and TRI are in formats that cannot be understood by the software.

To import search results from TOXLINE Special and DART Special into a reference management program:

  1. Click on the "Download" button on the left side of the screen.
  2. A window will pop up, displaying several format options. Highlight the "Tagged" option and click "Download".
  3. Save the citations using ".txt" as the filename extension.
  4. When you import the citations, choose the "TOXLINE" filter from the program's list of filters.
To import search results from TOXLINE Core and DART Core into a reference management program:
  1. Change the display format to MEDLINE.
  2. Select "File" from the Send to pull-down menu, then click "Send to".
  3. Save the citations using ".txt" as the filename extension.
  4. When you import the citations, choose the PubMed filter from the program's list of filters.
Return to top

Question: Where can I get a list of journals in TOXNET?

Answer: NLM does not maintain a list of journals for citations found in TOXLINE or other TOXNET databases. TOXNET resources are drawn from multiple sources that provide data in the format used by each source's producer. There are no title lists for closed subfiles because there is no way to know how those sources gathered their material.

Question: Can an error in a citation be corrected?

Answer: Corrections can be made if the error is in TOXLINE (the toxicology subset of PubMed), DART, HSDB, or ChemID, because the database is produced by NLM. If the error is in TOXLINE Special (within TOXNET), CCRIS, ITER, TRI, or GENE-TOX, corrections cannot be made because NLM does not produce these databases. You may contact the original producer of the citation to request a change to a citation. The producer for a citation is listed as the "Secondary Source ID" at the bottom of a record. Or you may send the suggested correction to NLM at tehip@nlm.nih.gov.

Return to top
Obtaining TOXNET Data

Question: How do I lease/license the TOXNET databases?

Answer: The following TOXNET databases are available for lease: ChemIDplus, DIRLINE, CCRIS, GENE-TOX, HSDB, and portions of TOXLINE Special. For further information visit Leasing Data from the National Library of Medicine (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/leased.html#toxnet).

Question: I already lease a TOXNET database(s). Who do I contact if I have questions about the associated XML data?

Answer: NLM can give only limited support for those acquiring TOXNET data. If you need information about a field or find an error in the data, please email: tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov. Since many of the databases are created by other agencies, some problems cannot be corrected immediately.

Attempting to validate the XML data is a common problem. The TOXNET XML files produce "well-formed" XML data in accordance with W3C (http://www.w3.org) specifications, however many validating parsers behave differently. Making XML data work for your application may require the services of a professional text programmer.

Question: How often are the TOXNET databases updated on the FTP site for licensing?

Answer: Updated databases are placed on the FTP site by the close of the 28th of each month, Eastern Standard/Daylight Time. Occasional problems with the data or the coincidence of weekends or holidays may delay the data for 1-2 days.

If there is any change in the data from the previous month, the new version will be placed on the site. Please note that some of these changes may be extremely minor.

Return to top
ChemIDplus

Question: What are the sources you use to create ChemIDplus and how often is it updated?

Answer: As the online chemical identification (ChemIDplus) file of the NLM, the core sources of substance records correspond to those substances that are cited in one or more of the NLM databases. NLM databases include MEDLINE/PUBMED, MeSH, AIDSdrugs, and the TOXNET databases. Other sources include the Canadian Domestic Substances List (DSL), European EINECS, EPA TSCA Inventory, the SUPERLIST set of regulatory resources, and other internet databases such as EPA Substance Registry System, IARC, NIAID, and NIST Chemistry Webbook. There are over 70 chemical resources monitored in ChemIDplus. The ChemIDplus database is updated continuously.

Question: What is the difference between ChemIDplus Lite and Advanced?

Answer: ChemIDplus Lite and Advanced are two different applications of the ChemIDplus database. Lite is designed for simple searching on name or registry number to retrieve basic information about a chemical and provide locator links to other resources.

The Lite version displays structures, but does not allow drawing or searching on structures. ChemIDplus Advanced is designed for more advanced searching on any combination of name, registry number, molecular formula, classification code, locator code, toxicity, physical property, structure, or molecular weight. Toxicity and physical property data are displayed in tables under Basic Information.

The Advanced version provides locator links to the same resources as the Lite version. In addition, ChemIDplus Advanced allows users to draw their own structures and perform similarity and substructure searches.

Question: Why do I get a message about the Marvin Applet when I start ChemIDplus?

Answer: Marvin is a Java applet from ChemAxon (http://www.chemaxon.com) that is used to manipulate and edit chemical structures. When Marvin first loads, you must answer whether to trust it "this time or always". If "always" is selected, it will not ask each session. Marvin is also used to display structures such as PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files in our results page so that a plug in is not needed to view results.

Question: Why do I get a warning about loading Java when I start ChemIDplus?

Answer: Marvin requires that a JVM (Java Virtual Machine) be loaded. JVM converts and executes byte code for a given platform. Some newer browsers no longer include this. If you don't have one, you will be prompted to download it. For security reasons, it is recommended that you get the latest version from SUN at http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/index.jsp. This is not necessary if you get the updates automatically.

Return to top

Question: How do I draw or edit with Chime and ISISDraw in ChemIDplus?

Answer: Chime is a chemical display plug-in from MDL available at http://www.mdli.com. ISISDraw is a companion structure drawing package available from the same site. Both must be downloaded and installed on your machine: on the Structure window, right click >edit>Transfer to ISIS/Draw to automatically call ISIS/Draw (this enables you to draw or edit your own query). ISIS/Draw has a series of chemical drawing tools and help files available. After drawing or editing, click >Transfer mode to return to the Structure Window for searching.

For display, Chime is currently enabled only for the "Enlarge Structure" link on a retrieved record (not the button, but the text link). This will display the current structure in Chime either for 2D or 3D viewing.

Question: How do I draw or edit structures with Marvin in ChemIDplus?

Answer: Marvin is the default editor; clicking once on the Structure window will call the Marvin Editor. The Marvin Editor has a series of chemical drawing tools and help files available. The drawn structure or substructure will appear immediately in the Structure window of the Advanced Search page. You may then select the type of search, add any qualifying data ranges (such as molecular weight), and click on the Search button on the top or bottom of the page.

Question: How do I download a single structure Mol file in ChemIDplus?

Answer: You may go to a Chime display, then right click and choose File > Save Molecule As > and choose .MDL Mole File format. as the format. You can also Transfer a structure from a search to the search page where Chime has been selected, and then go through the same process. To use Marvin, you may transfer a structure to the search page from a previous search. Call the Marvin Editor by clicking on the Structure box, and then in the Editor, chose File > Save As > Files of Type > MDL Molfiles (*.mol) format.

Question: How do I view a structure in ChemIDplus?

Answer: Structures are viewable in ChemIDplus Lite and Advanced versions. In both versions, the structure is displayed by clicking on the full record or any other button under Basic Information. The structure appears in the header under the name and registry number of the substance. The Advanced version also displays the structure immediately upon retrieving a search result in the upper right corner of the page with an 'Enlarge Structure' link that pops open a window allowing 2D or 3D viewing and manipulation of the structure. The 'Structure' button under Basic Information displays the 2D structure as well as the isomers in 3D representation which can also be manipulated.

Return to top
Household Products Database

Question: What is a Material Data Safety Sheet?

Answer: A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a fact sheet developed by a manufacturer describing the chemical properties of a product. Material Safety Data Sheets include brand-specific information such as physical data (solid, liquid, color, melting point, flash point, etc.), health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, handling, disposal, personal protection and spill/leak procedures.

As required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the target audience for information in a MSDS is an individual who may be exposed to chemicals at work. However, much of the information is also relevant to consumers.

Question: How do I find a Material Data Safety Sheet?

Answer: NLM does not produce or maintain MSDS, however, much of the data required for an MSDS is included in our Hazardous Substances Data Bank. Some MSDS information is also available in the Household Products Database. Another source for MSDS information is "Where to Find Material Safety Data Sheets on the Internet" (http://www.ilpi.com/msds/).

Return to top

Question: How do I locate a manufacturer of a chemical/product/medication?

Answer: Contact information for the manufacturer may be obtained by entering the brand name in the Quick Search box on the Home Page of the database. This retrieves a list of products by brand names. Click on the brand name of your product to link to a page containing contact information on the manufacturer of your product.

Question: Who do I contact with a complaint about an unsatisfactory or unsafe household product?

Answer: Contact the manufacturer of the product. Manufacturer contact information is usually included on the product label. Contact information for manufacturers is also included in the Household Products Database and is verified periodically. A complaint can also be submitted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov/).

Question: How can I find out where to purchase a household product?

Answer: If you have the product, check to see if there is contact information on the product label such as a toll-free number, e-mail address or web site. You can also search brand name products in the Household Products Database (http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/) If the product is not listed, you may want to try an internet search engine such as www.yahoo.com or www.google.com

Return to top
Miscellaneous

Question: What are the NLM Toxicology Tutorials and can I download them?

Answer: The Toxicology Tutorials (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/ToxTutor.html) are three self-guided tutorials on toxicology. Each tutorial covers a different aspect of toxicology from an academic perspective: Toxicology Tutor I - Basic Principles, Toxicology Tutor II - Toxicokinetics, and Toxicology Tutor III - Cellular Toxicology. You also have the option of downloading the tutorials to run them on your computer, without being connected to the internet.

Question: Can I use TOXNET on my handheld device?

Answer: TOXNET is not formatted specifically for handheld devices. It can be accessed with a web browser on any handheld device with wireless connection. The WISER application, containing a subset of HSDB data, is tailored for emergency responders. It is available for Pocket PC and Palm OS devices. WISER can be downloaded from http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov.

Question: Can you recommend a medical professional?

Answer: There are several ways you can find a doctor who specializes in treating specific diseases. The NLM FAQ on "Find a Doctor" (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/doctor.html) is a starting point to help you find a doctor.

Question: Where can I find a job in the field of environmental health and toxicology?

Answer: For resources related to careers in toxicology and environmental health follow this link to our page on Education, Careers, and Outreach in Toxicology and Environmental Health (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/edcotox.htm#careers).

Question: Where do I send a suggestion for a link on your Web site?

Answer: We welcome your suggestions. Please note that the National Library of Medicine generally links only to academic, non-commercial, and Federal government Web sites. You may send suggestions to tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov


PDF formats are best viewed with Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™.

Return to top
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894,
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services
Copyright, Privacy, Freedom of Information Act, Accessibility
Customer Service: tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov.
Last modified on February 22, 2005