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Data Integrity Policy

Last updated: April 2026 · Complementary to HQ Data Policy v2.0

Note: This page covers data integrity (how safety data is recorded, attributed, and preserved under the ALCOA+ framework). For privacy and personal-data handling across Holistic Quality services, see the HQ Data Policy (Version 2.0, April 2026).

The Holistic Quality safety database applies pharmaceutical-grade data integrity principles to consumer safety information. Every claim is traceable. Every update is logged.

ALCOA+ Principles

We follow ALCOA+, a framework developed for regulated industries where data integrity is critical. Applied to our safety database:

A — Attributable

Every entry records who created it, who reviewed it, and when. You can see the author of every claim.

L — Legible

Data is structured consistently so humans and applications can read it reliably.

C — Contemporaneous

Entries are dated when created. Timestamps reflect when work was actually done.

O — Original

We cite primary sources (EPA, MSDS, peer-reviewed research) rather than secondary summaries when possible.

A — Accurate

Information reflects what sources actually say. We don't editorialize or spin data.

The + extends these principles:

Complete

We don't cherry-pick. If sources conflict (e.g., IARC vs EPA on carcinogenicity), we present both.

Consistent

Every chemical entry follows the same structure. Same fields, same format, same rigor.

Enduring

Data persists. Revision history is maintained. Nothing is silently deleted.

Available

Information is accessible when you need it. No paywalls. No extraction.

How Sources Work

Source Types

We categorize sources by authority:

epa — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (IRIS, CompTox/CTX, ToxCast, CPDat)
database — PubChem (NIH/NLM), ChEBI, ChEMBL, Wikidata, UNII (FDA)
iarc — International Agency for Research on Cancer (Monographs 1–140)
msds — Material Safety Data Sheets from manufacturers
fda — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
who — World Health Organization
cdc — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NHANES biomonitoring)
nih — National Institutes of Health
journal — Peer-reviewed scientific publications
vet — Veterinary toxicology references (ASPCA APCC, ATSDR)
reference — ATSDR toxicological profiles, OSHA PELs, NIOSH RELs

Citation Requirements

Every factual claim in our database includes:

Reference to one or more source IDs
Source metadata (title, URL, access date)
Archive links when available for permanence

If we cannot cite a claim, we mark the entry as draft until proper sourcing is established.

Revision History

Every entry maintains a revision history showing:

Version number
Date of change
Who made the change
What changed and why

We do not silently modify entries. If new research changes our understanding, the update is logged with explanation.

Entry Status

Each entry has a status indicating its review state:

draft — Initial entry, may have incomplete sources
active — Reviewed and verified
under_review — Being updated or disputed
deprecated — Outdated, superseded, or found to be incorrect

Reporting Errors

If you find inaccurate information, missing sources, or outdated data, please report it:

Email: safety@holisticquality.io
Include: the entry ID, what's wrong, and ideally a correct source

Corrections are reviewed by the Holistic Quality team and logged in revision history with attribution to the reporter (or anonymous if preferred).

What We Don't Do

We don't accept payment to modify entries
We don't allow manufacturers to edit their own product entries
We don't remove accurate negative information under pressure
We don't present opinion as fact
We don't hide conflicting scientific views

Open Data

Our safety data structure is open. The schema is published. Truth shouldn't be paywalled.

Applications in the HQ ecosystem — including the ALETHEIA API — pull from this shared database, presenting the same underlying truth in context-appropriate ways.

Contact

Questions about our data practices:
safety@holisticquality.io