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Chemicals policy and pollutants, REACH
Hazardous Substances Rapid Information Service (GSA)
Last changed: 11/10/2007
The Hazardous Substances Rapid Information Service (Gefahrstoffschnellauskunft – GSA) provides:
Support and information for decision making in the following fields:
- environmental protection
- anticipatory protection of the environment
- cooperation on the environment
The GSA is available for public institutions at federal level and of some of the Länder (Federal States) as well as for institutions performing functions for the public sector.
Specific information on dangerous goods is available in the database GEFAHRGUT of the Federal Institute for Materials Testing and Research (BAM).
The GSA's aims:
- provide rapid access to reliable information on hazardous substances
- assist with information in case of accidents involving hazardous substances
- monitor the storage and transportation of environmentally hazardous substances
- provide information on how to avoid danger and damage due to hazardous substances
The GSA's sources:
The data contained in the GSA is extracted from the GSBL - the Joint Substance Data Pool Federation/Länder. The GSA covers a limited set of characteristics roughly comparable to that of the EU safety data sheet, from various data providers:
- Brandweerinformatiecentrum Gevaarlijke Stoffen (BIG), Geel, Belgian
- Chemis (database of the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Institute of Risk Assessment)
- Database GEFAHRGUT
- Institute of the Fire Department of Saxony-Anhalt
- and others of GSBL
Content of the GSA:
- The names of substances including German, English and French synonyms, as well as trade names
- Registration numbers, including CAS-No., EC-No., INDEX Number, etc.
- Physical and chemical properties, e.g. melting point, flashpoint, decomposition point, water solubility, etc.
- Facts from relevant legislation, like MAK, WGK, etc.
- Description and properties, e.g. colour, odour, etc.
- Environmental hazards, e.g. water pollution, eco-toxicity, etc.
- Dangers to health and First Aid responses
- Fire and other technical hazards
- Information on what to do in case of release or ignition of the substance
- Information on protective equipment
Access to the GSA:
The GSA is accessible via a standard web browser over the internet. A login for authorisation is necessary. The application is hosted by TechniData, Karlsruhe, offering a hotline on weekdays between 8.00 and 16.00.
Further development of the GSA:
- A ranking module will allow more selective qualification of GSBL data for usage in the GSA
- Updating of the Web search application
