Ch. 10— Information Resources and Computer Systems • 233 
Key to Figure 10-4 
A. RTECS accession number, a sequence number assigned to each substance in the Registry. 
1. Substance name. 
2. Date when substance entry was last revised. 
3. American Chemical Society’s Chemical Abstracts Service unique identification number for 
the substance. 
4. Molecular weight of the substance. 
5. Molecular or elemental formula of the substance. 
6. Synonyms, common names, trade names, and other chemical names for the substance. 
7. Skin and eye irritation data. 
8. Mutation data. 
9. Reproductive effects data. 
10. Tumor-causing data. 
11. Toxicity data. 
12. Acronyms for the references from which the data and other citations were abstracted. 
13. Aquatic toxicity rating. 
14. Reviews of the substance. 
15. Standards and regulations for the substance promulgated by a Federal agency. 
16. A Criteria Document supporting a recommended standard has been published by NIOSH. 
17. Status information about the substance from NIOSH, EPA, and the National Toxicology 
Program. 
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Registry of Toxic 
Effects of Chemical Substances, R.L. Tatken and R.J. Lewis, Sr. (eds.) (Cincinnati, OH: DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 83-107, 1983). 
LABORATORY ANIMAL DATA BANK 
The Laboratory Animal Data Bank (LADB) is a 
computerized set of records of baseline data of 
physiological, histological, and other biological 
properties of mammalian species (largely rodents) 
used in research and testing. The data contained 
in LADB were derived from both research and test- 
ing, and are relevant to both areas of animal use. 
Although LADB exists today only as an archival 
reference, and is no longer publicly available on- 
line, it is of great historical interest in a considera- 
tion of computer-based information resources. 
In 1970-73, as the carcinogenesis bioassay pro- 
gram of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was 
developed, NCI’s Division of Cancer Cause and Pre- 
vention anticipated needing better access to base- 
line data for experimental animals. In 1973-74, NLM 
helped formulate the concepts leading to LADB. 
The major contributor of funding for LADB was 
NCI. 
Data for LADB were derived from published and 
unpublished reports. Only control, or baseline, 
data from groups of animals were included. The 
data were collected and entered into LADB via a 
standard, eight -page form (reproduced in ref. 2) 
that surveyed 306 variables, including: 
• name and manufacturer of the animals’ feed, 
• vaccinations given to the animals, 
• organs or tissues routinely examined at autopsy, 
• blood variables that were analyzed, 
• detergent used in washing cages, and 
• source of the animals. 
The first page of that form is reproduced in fig- 
ure 10-5. 
Building Phase/ 1975-80 
Battelle Laboratories (Columbus, OH) was awarded 
an NLM contract in 1975, after a competitive pro- 
curement, and began detailed design activities in 
1975-76. Methods for obtaining data were devel- 
oped, and the data file was designed to permit inter- 
active access, or time-sharing, by users. Sufficient 
data were entered to permit initial study by NLM 
staff in 1976, and in the following year 13 outside 
users were allowed to test the system. 
In June 1976, NLM requested the Institute of Lab- 
oratory Animal Besources (ILAB) of the National 
Academy of Sciences to provide advice on scien- 
tific and technical aspects of LADB. A Committee 
on Laboratory Animal Data was formed by ILAB 
