The EPA OPP Chemical ID is an internal identifier that can be used to directly link to any substance located in the Chemical Search Web Utility. To link directly to a substance user the following url pattern: http://iaspub.epa.gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=CHEMICALSEARCH:3:::NO::P3_XCHEMICAL_ID:[CHEMICAL ID]

The EPA PC (Pesticide Chemical) Code is a unique chemical code number assigned by the EPA to a particular pesticide active ingredient, inert ingredient or mixture of active ingredients. The EPA PC Code is sometimes referred to as the Shaugnessy Number.

The EPA SRS Identifier is an electronic key that facilitates data exchange with the Substance Registry System (SRS) and other EPA databases. It uniquely identifies each substance, enabling cross-walking between synonyms.

The EPA DSSTox Generic SID is used to aid in the central management of DSSTox structures and Standard Chemical Fields, and to provide look-across capability for common Test Substances across DSSTox files. It is used to ensure consistency of chemical information across DSSTox data files and for the population of new DSSTox data files. Given its non-unique nature, this SID field is no longer being used as the SID for PubChem submissions.

NIH Identifier (PubChem) is a database of chemical molecules. The system is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a component of the National Library of Medicine, which is part of the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). PubChem can be accessed for free through a web user interface. Millions of compound structures and descriptive datasets can be freely downloaded via FTP. PubChem contains substance descriptions and small molecules with fewer than 1000 atoms and 1000 bonds. More than 80 database vendors contribute to the growing PubChem database.

The InChIKey, sometimes referred to as a hashed InChI, is a fixed length (25 character) condensed digital representation of the InChI that is not human-understandable. The InChIKey specification was released in order to:
  •  Facilitate web searching, previously complicated by unpredictable breaking of InChI character strings by search engines
  •  Allow development of a web-based InChI lookup service
  •  Permit an InChI representation to be stored in fixed length fields
  •  Make chemical structure database indexing easier
  •  Allow verification of InChI strings after network transmission.

The Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry Number is a unique identifier assigned to each chemical and to some mixtures of chemicals by the Chemical Abstracts Service, a division of the American Chemical Society. This number is used worldwide.

The CAS registry number includes up to 9 digits which are separated into 3 groups by hyphens (xxxxxx-xx-x). The first part of the number, starting from the left, has up to 6 digits; the second part has 2 digits. The final part consists of a single check digit or checksum that makes it easy to determine whether a CAS number is valid or not.

The First Registered Date is the date on which EPA registered the first product containing the active ingredient.

The following table outlines the various Pesticide Types that may appear in the Chemical Search Web Utility:

Pre-Registration

The pre-registration process is any combination of pre application submissions or pre application meetings that take place before an actual application is made.

Registration

Pesticide registration is the process through which EPA examines the ingredients of a pesticide; the site or crop on which it is to be used; the amount, frequency and timing of its use; and storage and disposal practices. EPA evaluates the pesticide to ensure that it will not have unreasonable adverse effects on humans, the environment and non-target species. Pesticides must be registered or exempted by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs before they may be sold or distributed in the U.S. Once registered, a pesticide may not legally be used unless the use is consistent with the approved directions for use on the pesticide's label or labeling.

Under Review

Reregistration

EPA is reviewing older pesticides (those initially registered prior to November 1984) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. This process, called reregistration, considers the human health and ecological effects of pesticides and results in actions to reduce risks that are of concern.

Registration Review

In 2006, EPA initiated a new program called registration review to reevaluate all pesticides on a regular cycle. The program’s goal is to review each pesticide active ingredient every 15 years to make sure that as the ability to assess risks to human health and the environment evolves and as policies and practices change, all pesticide products in the marketplace can still be used safely.

Tolerance Information

By law, EPA is responsible for regulating the pesticides that are used by growers to protect crops and for setting limits on the amount of pesticides that may remain in or on foods marketed in the USA. These limits on pesticides left on foods are called "tolerances" in the U.S. (they are referred to as maximum residue limits, or MRLs, in many other countries).

EPA establishes tolerances for each pesticide based on the potential risks to human health posed by that pesticide. Some risk assessments are based on the assumption that residues will always be present in food at the maximum level permitted by the tolerance. Other risk assessments use actual or anticipated residue data, to reflect real-world consumer exposure as closely as possible.

As stated above, EPA sets the tolerance limits for each pesticide that may be found on foods. But the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforces tolerances established for meat, poultry and some egg products, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces tolerances established for other foods. In this way, these federal agencies ensure that the nation's food supply is maintained safely at all times.

NIH PubChem

PubChem, released in 2004, provides information on the biological activities of small molecules. It is a component of NIH's Molecular Libraries Roadmap Initiative.

PubChem is organized as three linked databases within the NCBI's Entrez information retrieval system. These are PubChem Substance, PubChem Compound, and PubChem BioAssay. PubChem also provides a fast chemical structure similarity search tool. More information about using each component database may be found using the links in the homepage.

Links from PubChem's chemical structure records to other Entrez databases provide information on biological properties. These include links to PubMed scientific literature and NCBI's protein 3D structure resource. Links to PubChem's bioassay database present the results of biological screening. Links to depositor web sites provide further information. A PubChem FTP site, Download Facility, Power User Gateway(PUG), Standardization Service, Score Matrix Service, Structure Clustering, and Deposition Gateway are also available.

PubChem provides tips and example code to allow users to add PubChem search tool (free) in their sites. A PubChem publication site provides links to published articles.

EPA SRS

Substance Registry Services (SRS) is the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) central system for information about substances that are tracked or regulated by EPA or other sources. It is the authoritative resource for basic information about chemicals, biological organisms, and other substances of interest to EPA and its state and tribal partners.

The SRS makes it possible to identify which EPA data systems, environmental statutes, or other sources have information about a substance and which synonym is used by that system or statute. It becomes possible therefore to map substance data across EPA programs regardless of synonym.

The system provides a common basis for identification of, and information about:
  •  Chemicals
  •  Biological organisms
  •  Physical properties
  •  Miscellaneous objects

The CAS number(s) are provided to facilitate finding the correct chemical. However, they may or may not represent what EPA has regulated. Please refer to the documents in the Regulatory Actions tab for the CAS number(s) associated with a decision.