New Chemical Database Defines Health Effects

The International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, in collaboration with BlueGreen Alliance, has released a tool that allows workers to look up both the acute and chronic effects of the 10,000 most commonly used chemicals. The Chemical Hazard and Alternatives Toolkit (ChemHAT) is a free online database featuring a wide range of chemical health effects ranging from skin rashes and eye irritants to birth defects, nervous system disorders and cancer. The database also identifies how workers come into contact with the materials, what available safety precautions they should take and what alternatives are available. ChemHAT will allow workers and businesses to make their own informed decisions about the chemicals they use and the risks involved, according to David Foster, Executive Director of BlueGreen Alliance. For more information, attend ChemHAT’s live webinar on Sept. 25, 2012.