Overview#
A PSAP dispatcher takes a call about a chemical release at an industrial facility. The caller reads out "ammonium nitrate" from a shipping document. The dispatcher needs to know, within seconds, the ERG guide number, isolation distances for a large spill, the AEGL thresholds for population exposure, and what evacuation zone a Gaussian plume model would produce given the current wind conditions. Flipping through a physical guidebook and calling a hazmat team for the chemical properties is not fast enough. The Chemical HAZMAT Database assembles all of that data in one interface, accessible in under a second by any identifier the dispatcher might have: UN number, CAS number, chemical name, or common trade name.
Access to over 100,000 chemical substances through PubChem API integration, combined with AEGL threshold data and atmospheric dispersion modelling, gives dispatchers and first responders the information they need to make protective action decisions without a chemistry degree.
Open Standards#
- UN Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS): Hazard pictograms GHS01, GHS09, H-code hazard statements, P-code precautionary statements, and signal words are fetched from PubChem and stored per the UN GHS specification to give dispatchers internationally recognised hazard symbols.
- DOT/PHMSA Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG 2024): UN numbers are mapped to ERG guide numbers and the associated isolation distances, firefighting procedures, and protective action recommendations are drawn directly from the ERG, the same reference used by first responders in the field.
- NFPA 704 (Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response): Health, fire, reactivity, and special-hazard ratings on the 0, 4 scale are stored and displayed as the fire-service standard fire diamond alongside GHS pictograms.
- CAS Registry Number (Chemical Abstracts Service): CAS numbers are used as a primary lookup key to identify substances unambiguously and to query the PubChem PUG-REST API for enrichment data.
- UN Dangerous Goods Numbers (UN numbers): Four-digit UN identifiers per the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (Orange Book) are the core placard-based search key for transport incidents.
- US EPA/NIOSH Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL): The three-tier AEGL-1, AEGL-2, and AEGL-3 concentration thresholds published by the US National Advisory Committee are stored per substance and fed directly into Gaussian plume calculations to produce protective-action zone boundaries.
- GeoJSON (IETF RFC 7946): Evacuation zone polygons and plume contours generated from atmospheric dispersion modelling are encoded as GeoJSON Polygon features for interoperability with mapping and CAD systems.
Last Reviewed: 2026-02-05 Last Updated: 2026-04-14
Key Features#
Extensive Chemical Database#
Access to over 100,000 chemical substances through PubChem API integration. Search by chemical name, CAS number, UN number, or common names with typeahead autocomplete for fast dispatcher access during active incidents.
AEGL Threshold Database#
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for population exposure assessment during chemical releases. The three-tier threshold system (AEGL-1, AEGL-2, AEGL-3) with time-based exposure values feeds directly into evacuation calculations, replacing manual lookup from printed tables.
Emergency Response Guidebook Lookup#
Instant ERG guide retrieval by UN number or guide number with isolation distances, firefighting procedures, and first aid instructions from the DOT/PHMSA Emergency Response Guidebook. Same guide numbers and format responders already know.
GHS Hazard Classification#
GHS pictograms and hazard statements for visual hazard identification. NFPA 704 fire diamond ratings provide standard fire service hazard assessment. Both classification systems displayed together for complete hazard picture.
Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling#
Gaussian plume modelling for chemical release scenarios incorporating real-time weather data, AEGL thresholds, and terrain factors to calculate protective action zones and evacuation distances. Results update automatically as weather conditions change.
PPE Recommendations#
Personal protective equipment guidance based on chemical properties, exposure routes, and concentration levels. Level A through D protection recommendations for field responder safety, aligned with OSHA and NIOSH standards.
Use Cases#
- HAZMAT Dispatch: Instant chemical lookup during emergency calls with response guidance, isolation distances, and PPE requirements for relay to field units
- Plume Modelling: Calculate downwind hazard zones during chemical releases using atmospheric dispersion modelling with real-time weather integration
- Pre-Incident Planning: Research chemical hazards at fixed facilities for emergency response planning and community notification zone establishment
Integration#
Integrates with CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA/EPA), PubChem (NIH), and the Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT/PHMSA). Connects with CAD and dispatch systems and weather data services for context-aware response recommendations.