Improvements in the NIOSH registry of toxic effects of chemical substances.

Subsequent to the publication of the 1977 edition of the NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS), several additions and changes were introduced that substantially improved the content and accessibility of the RTECS data file. Content additions included primary irritation data for both skin and eyes, in vitro mutagenicity data, and citations to toxicology review articles and to the Toxic Substances Control Act inventory. Also undertaken was a re-evalution of existing tumorigenic entries based on revised selection criteria. Accessibility to RTECS data has been facilitated by the introduction of on-line interactive computer searching, and the preparation and distribution of Computer Output Microfiche (COM-fiche) and magnetic tape copies of the file which supplement the annual publication.