Title: Review of commercial environmental information sources
Author: Environment Agency Thames Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
A feasibility study was established in 1996/97 to evaluate a number of environmental data and information systems in order to improve the efficiency of service offered to Agency staff and external customers by the Environment Agency's Environmental Toxicology Advisory Service. The Environment Agency offers an internal advisory service providing information on the impact of substances in the environment, primarily the aquatic environment, in order to assist Agency staff involved in pollution incidents, consent setting and general water quality management. Established in 1993, the Environmental Toxicology Advisory Service (ETAS) operates through Regional Contacts and is now coordinated by the National Centre of Ecotoxicology and Hazardous Substances at Wallingford. The information held in-house relates to the use, physical/chemical properties, fate and behaviour, and aquatic toxicity of chemicals with information being sourced from internal reports, published literature, commercial on-line and CD-ROM databases. The application of new information sources within ETAS began by building on recommendations made in previous reports of environmental data sources and concentrated mainly on subscription to online systems. A comparison of quality o f data, usefulness o f system, ease of access, cost effectiveness, and format of data was investigated. Although the focus of the Regional Water Quality Science team in Thames has changed, this review should provide useful information for the National Centre for Ecotoxicology and Hazardous Substances when considering procurement of future information systems.The application of new information sources within ETAS began by building on recommendations made in previous reports of environmental data sources and concentrated
mainly on subscription to online systems. A comparison of quality of data, usefulness of system, ease of access, cost effectiveness, and format of data was investigated. Although the focus of the Regional Water Quality Science team in Thames has changed, this review should provide useful information for the National Centre for Ecotoxicology and Hazardous Substances when considering procurement of future information systems.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: [1997]
Publication Place: Berkshire
Subject Keywords: Information services; Information systems; Toxicology; Data; Databases; Information management
Extent: 23; + appendices
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:214
Total file downloads: 251
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