Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide necessary information about precautions for protecting against known hazards associated with the material and often include useful information on chemical, physical, and toxicological properties, along with suggestions for storing, transporting, and disposing of chemicals. MSDSs are the best general source of information available, and they should be consulted as a first step in assessing the risk associated with doing an experiment or working with a new product. However, because there is currently no standard format for MSDSs, their quality varies widely, and the information that they contain may be inappropriate for laboratory use. Exercise caution when using MSDS's and use non-MSDS sources for additional information. If you need additional assistance call EH&S at 9-2553.