title: The benefits and challenges of a voluntary occupational exposure database.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the experience of creating and implementing an occupational exposure database for synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs). The lessons learned and benefits achieved through this experience may be instructive to government and industry when assessing the need, utility, and design of an occupational exposure database for nanomaterials.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article consists of an empirical account of the issues faced during the construction and maintenance of an occupational exposure database for SVFs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occupation exposure database for SVF proved to be beneficial and successful but encountered several challenges relating to data consistency, data quality, and other problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SVF database provides a good case study to illustrate the potential benefits and challenges of creating and administering an occupational exposure database.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. gary.marchant@asu.edu
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Marchant
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crane
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D049329:Nanostructures; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011786:Quality Control; D035141:Voluntary Programs
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers