COD Library: Cosmetology 1103: Chemical Safety Resources

Searching for Chemical Safety information

For this project, you will be looking for information on a specific chemical. You'll need to find:

The chemical name and some common products that include the chemical
A full description of the harmful aspects of this chemical
A full description of the safe handling and use of the chemical
Any other interesting information that you find out about your chemical

This guide will point you towards a variety of sources that can help you find this information. You will need to pull in information from several different sources.

Databases

Databases are collections of articles that were published in different magazines, trade and academic journals, newspapers, and online. Each one has a different focus. Here are some that might be helpful for researching Chemical Safety. If you're not sure where to start, always feel free to Ask a Librarian! (We know a lot of tips and tricks for databases).

Associates Programs Source Plus

Associates Programs Source Plus contains popular and scholarly articles and videos for areas such as accounting, agriculture, childcare, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, fashion, fire science, forestry, graphic arts, hospitality, interior design, massage therapy, plumbing, veterinary technology, and welding.
Credo Reference

Credo Reference provides access to a broad selection of dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, quotations, and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific titles. Includes a built-in mind map to help students brainstorm search terms. Credo is a great place to start your research.
PubMed - National Library of Medicine

The PubMed database, freely available via the Internet, provides citations and abstracts to articles in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, allied health, and the pre-clinical sciences; it also indexes articles from the Index to Dental Literature and the International Nursing Index. PubMed is a service of the US National Library of Medicine. Citations may include links to full-text articles from PubMed Central or publisher websites.
Need help searching in PubMed? Click here for a helpful tip sheet.
Academic Search Ultimate

Academic Search Complete provides both popular and scholarly journal coverage and video clips for nearly all academic areas of study including: social sciences, humanities, education, technology, engineering, physics, chemistry, language & linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences and ethnic studies. Academic Search Complete is a great starting point for most general research.

Suggested Websites

Cosmetic Ingredient Review
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) studies individual chemical compounds as they are used in cosmetic products. The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assess the safety of ingredients for use in cosmetics. The function of an ingredient in cosmetics is noted. The Panel reviews the data relevant to the safety of an ingredient and concludes whether an ingredient is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in a safety assessment.
PubChem
PubChem is the world's largest collection of freely accessible chemical information. Search chemicals by name, molecular formula, structure, and other identifiers. Find chemical and physical properties, biological activities, safety and toxicity information, patents, literature citations and more.
OSHA Publications
Reports by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety practices in different fields. Most relevant to this project might be "Beauty Industry" and "Nail Salons".
Environmental Protection Agency
The website of the US agency whose mission is is "to protect human health and the environment." A good place to find regulations and reports on different chemicals.

This is not a comprehensive list! You may find other web sources that provide the information you need.

The Library has a guide on How to Evaluate Websites that you can refer to when deciding whether or not to use a source.

Search the Library for books and more

Use the Library Catalog (below) to search for books, ebooks, and videos we own.

When searching books, sometimes broader is better.

Try searching things like:

An overarching subject (i.e. chemistry, beauty products, cosmetics)
A type of product or service (i.e. eyeliner, plastic surgery)
A specific chemical or effect

Mix and match!

Try different words - sometimes you and the resources will be using different words to describe the same thing.

Check the table of contents in books that have a bigger scope. There may be just a section or a chapter that you need.

Use one source to find more sources -- what did they cite? What words or phrases did they use?

You might be surprised and what you can find. Did you know we have a whole ebook on The Science of Beauty?