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A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is your first line of research when you're investigating the potential hazards of any chemical substance. An MSDS is a workplace document that catalogs detailed information about chemical products, in order to provide workers and emergency personnel with safe use and handling procedures. In some jurisdictions, an MSDS is also required to state the chemical's risks, safety and impact on the environment.

An MSDS includes information on physical properties (such as melting point, boiling point and flash point), toxicity, health effects, first aid measures, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment and spill handling procedures. MSDS format requirements vary from nation to nation. When researching a chemical product using an MSDS, it's important to use the MSDS that is both country- and supplier-specific, since some product formulations vary in different regions.

While the information on an MSDS may be useful to general consumers, MSDSs are intended for users in occupational settings. An MSDS for a cleaning solution may not be relevant to someone who uses one can of cleaner per year, although it would be vital information for someone who uses the chemical in an enclosed space for 40 hours a week.

You can locate MSDSs for many chemical products on the internet. MSDSs for many common household products are available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Household Products Database.