Hazardous materials
awareness
Properties of hazardous
materials
objectives
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Identify the ways hazardous materials can
be harmful to people the enviorment, and
property
Identify general routes of entry for human
exposureto hazardous materials
Harmful effects of hazmats
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Thermal
Mechanical
Poisonus
Corrosive
Asphyxiation
Radiation
Etiological
Thermal effects
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Heat exposure, either
fire or wearing
protective equipment
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Cold exposure,
primarily from
croygenic materials
Examples of cryogenic materials
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Liquid oxygen
Liquid nitrogen
Liquid helium
Liquid hydrogen
Liquified natrual gas
Mechanical effects
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Physical contact with
objects, such as;
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Bruises punctures and
cuts from container
edges
Flying objects as a
result of explosions or
rapid releases
Poisonus effects
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Will cause damage to
organs or body
systems and include;
Nephrotoxins
Hematoxins
Neurotoxins
hepatotoxins
Examples of poisons
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Halonagated hydrocarbons are
nephrotoxins
Benzene, nitrates, napthalene, and arsine
are blood effecting agents
Organophosphates like parathion and
malathion are nerve effecting materials
Ammonia, carbon tetrachloride, and
phenols effect the liver.
Corrosive effects
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Causes damage to
metals and flesh
May ignite nearby
combustibles
Includes acids and
bases
Acids and bases
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Contact with acids causes immediate pain
and chemical burns
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Bases damage underlying tissues, penetrate
deeply into the body, and break down fatty
tissues. May be characterized by a greasy
feeling on the skin.
General symptoms of corrosives
exposure
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Burning arouns eyes, nose mouth
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty breathing, swallowing or
coughing
Localized burning or skin irritation
Examples of acids and bases
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Acids
Hydrochloric acid
Nitric acid
Sulfuric acid
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Bases
Caustic soda
Potassium hydroxide
Any alkaline materials
Asphyxiation effects
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Simple asphyxiants are generally inert
gases that displace or crowd out oxygen
from the surrounding air
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Examples include;
 Acetylene
 Carbon dioxide
 Helium
 Hydrogen
 Nitrogen
 Methane
 ethane
Asphyxiation effects
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Chemical asphyxiants interfere with the
body’s ability to use oxygen, and can
happen in 3 ways
Carbon monoxide latches onto blood cells
better than oxygen and crowds it out of the
blood
Asphyxiant effects
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Hydrazine breaks the bond between
hemoglobin and the red blood cells,
making the blood cell useless
Benzene and tolulene destroy hemoglobin
altogether
Radiation effects
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Radiation causes somatic effects and genetic
effects on the body, both internal and external.
Effects include radiation sickness, radiation
injury, and radiation poisoning.
Sickness is caused by large exposure to
external radiation
Injury is burns caused by high amounts of less
penetrating radiation
Poisoning is inhaling radioactive particles
Radiation effects
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Radiation caused injuries are not
contagious but be aware of radioactive
dust contamination
Potentials for radioactive contamination
may occur at medical facilities, industrial
operations, power plants, and research
facilities
The main basic types of radiation are
alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, and neutron.
Alpha particles
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Alphas are large positively charged
particles with little ability to penetrate
Most dangerous when ingested or inhaled
into the body
A sheet of paper will stop alpha particles,
and full ppe with scba will give protection
Beta particles
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Beta particles are much smaller than
alphas, and are negatively charged
Betas can be high or low velocity
All beta particles can be stopped by wood
or aluminum, our bunkers will not stop
high velocity betas
Large amounts of betas will cause
radiation burns
Gamma rays and x-rays
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These are waves of electromagnetic
radiation, have no particular charge, and
have very high penetration
Will cause personal injuries and genetic
damage
Only very dense materials like lead will
block these waves
Radiation protection strategies
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Time the less time you are exposed, the
less contamination
Distance the farther you are away from
the source, the less dose you will take
Shielding intervening materials like
concrete, earth, lead and water will
prevent penetration by radioactive
particles and rays.
Etiological effects
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This includes microorganisms and toxins
that can cause severe disease
Examples include Hiv, hepatitis,
meningitis, typhoid, anthrax, etc.
Other hazards
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Irritants are agents that effect the
respiratory system and attack mucus
membranes
Sensitizers/allergens are materials that
can cause severe allergetic rreactions to
those who have previously been exposed
to it
Convulsants are materials that can cause
seizures in individuals
Chronic health hazards
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Carcinogens are cancer causing agents
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Mutagens are materials that can damage
heridetary genes, and pass on health
problems
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Teratogens can cause damage to the
unborn fetus
Examples of carcinogens
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Polyvinyl chloride
Asbestos
Chlorinated hydrocarbons
Arsenic
Nickle
Some pesticides and plastics
Examples of mutagens
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Radioactive materials
Ethylene oxide
Benzene
Examples of teratogens
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Ionizing radiation
Ethyl alchol
Methyl mercury
Thalidomide
Dioxine
Infections like rubella
Routes of entry
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Inhalation breathing in materials
Absorbtion substances permeating the
skin
Ingestion getting the material into your gi
tract
Injection material entering through a break
in the skin