From InFocus Newsletter,Vol. 13, No.1, March 2005

The National Library of Medicine, the world largest library of the health services, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, recently announced an interactive Web site that shows on maps the amount and location of certain toxic chemicals released into the environment in the United States. The site, called TOXMAP, is free. No registration is required. Click here to visit the TOXMAP website TOXMAP.

TOXMAP focuses on the geographic distribution of chemical releases, their relative amounts, and their trends over time. This release data comes from industrial facilities around the United States, as reported annually to the Environmental Protection Agency. TOXMAP also links to the Library extensive collection of toxicology and environmental health references, as well as to a rich resource of data on hazardous chemical substances in its TOXNET databases . Click here to visit the TOXNET website TOXNET.

There are also fact sheets and summaries about the various chemicals, written by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. For example, a family moving to a new city can locate facilities releasing toxic chemicals by entering the city name and state, generating a map of facilities in that area. For each facility, information including location and chemicals released is provided. Information about the health effects of the specific chemicals identified is also provided.

Library Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg says, "In the last several years, the Library has created a number of Web sites with the consumer in mind." He add, "TOXMAP is a prime example. It joins Web resources for consumer health information broadly (MedlinePlus.gov), research studies (ClinicalTrials.gov), and older Americans (NIHSeniorHealth.gov)."

It should be noted that persons not having internet access in their own homes can receive help with Web access at their local libraries.

Source: NIH National Library of Medicine, December 3, 2004