Jay A. Brown
Problem Addressed
The information necessary to recognize work-related diseases caused
by chemical and biological agents is voluminous; it is scattered
across numerous book chapters, journal articles, monographs, and
databases. Detecting patients with work-related diseases is difficult
because of the low prevalence of occupational diseases and the minimal
training of health professionals in occupational toxicology.
Summary of Tool
Haz-Map is a relational database of hazardous chemicals and
occupational diseases. Information about each of the 987 agents
includes uses, adverse effects, associated industrial processes, and
threshold values useful for exposure assessment. Information about
each of the 160 occupational diseases includes associated symptoms,
high-risk job tasks, jobs, and industries. Diseases, occupations, and
industries are coded by ICD-9, SOC, and SIC standard classification
systems, respectively. A premium is placed on information that helps
the user to distinguish between significant and harmless
exposures.
Use of Tool
The information in Haz-Map was comprehensively collected and indexed
by a content expert (a physician board certified in occupational
medicine). The database was designed to work like a map to help the
user quickly "zoom in" to the right information. The intended users
(health and safety professionals in the workplace or clinic) can find
information about diseases or chemicals by browsing categories or
querying the database. Queries make use of pick lists to find
chemicals (by adverse effects or processes) and to find diseases (by
symptoms or jobs). Haz-Map is available as a Microsoft Access
application. The National Library of Medicine is evaluating it with
plans to publish a free web-based version later this year.
NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only.