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Hazardous substances are chemicals that can harm human health. While it might be obvious that some substances, such as acids or poisons, can cause harm, some health effects may not be so readily apparent. For example, in some cases dusts or vapours can also be hazardous substances.
Substances that cause skin irritation, allergies, cancer, birth defects, genetic mutations, and other health effects are also classified as hazardous substances. Health effects may not be immediate and may occur over a long time period. A hazardous substance may be a simple chemical or it may be a mixture of several chemicals.
Chemical hazards are not limited to those substances obtained from a supplier and delivered in a labelled container with an SDS. Industrial processes such as welding or grinding may cause toxic fumes or dusts. Toxic atmospheres, or atmospheres without enough oxygen to sustain life, may develop in confined spaces or inadequately ventilated spaces.
Examples of some potentially hazardous substances include: paints drugs cosmetics cleaning chemicals degreasers detergents gas cylinders refrigerant gases pesticides herbicides diesel fuel petrol liquefied petroleum gas welding fume.
Some hazardous substances are also classified as dangerous goods. Dangerous goods are those substances or articles with an immediate risk to health or safety. This includes physical risks such as flammability or corrosion
For a hazardous substance to have an effect it has to make contact with or enter the body – the way this occurs is called a route of entry. The main routes of entry are: swallowing – for example from hand contamination or food contact breathing in (inhalation) of atmospheric contaminants skin or eye contact – such as contact with dust on surfaces, splashes to the skin or eyes.
Some substances are so poisonous that swallowing a small amount will cause harm. Swallowing