HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WORDS pt 1
BY
Richard Wolfe
Ok here is the hard one, since in the first article several definitions of what is considered hazardous was discussed, we now are going to take a look at other keywords for Hazardous Materials. This might just be a 2 part article, so bear with me, since this will deal with the health effects of exposure to a Hazardous Material
Absorption - passage of toxic materials through some body surface into body fluids and tissue.
Acute - Single exposure ( dose ) or several repeated exposures to a substance within a short time period.
Acute Health Effects - Health effects that occur or develop rapidly after exposure to a substance.
Allergen - Material that can cause an allergic reaction of the skin or respiratory system. Also called a Sensitizer.
Asphyxiant - Any substance that prevents oxygen from combining in sufficient quantities with the blood or from being used by body tissues.
Asphyxiating Materials - Substances that can cause death by displacing the oxygen in the air. ( note, it is possible to suffer from asphyxiation from exposure to Liquid Oxygen. Too much Oxygen . )
Asphyxiation - Condition that causes death because of a deficient amount of oxygen and an excessive amount of carbon monoxide and/or other gases in the blood.
Biochemical - Involving chemical reactions in living organisms.
Carcinogens - Cancer causing substances.
Chemical Asphyxiant - Substances that react to keep the body from being able to use oxygen. Also know as Blood Poisons.
Chronic - Of long duration or recurring over a period of time.
Chronic Health Hazards - Long-term effects from either a one time or repeated exposure to a substance.
Congenital - Existing at or from birth.
Convulsant - Poison that causes an exposed person to have convulsions.
Dyspnea - Painful or difficult breathing, rapid, shallow respirations.
Etiological Agents - Living microorganisms, like germs, that can cause human disease; a biologically hazardous material.
Hematoxic Agent - Chemicals that affect the blood.
Ingestion - Taking in food or other substances through the nose or mouth.
Inhalation - Taking in materials by breathing through the nose or mouth.
Irritant - Liquid or solid that upon contact with fire or exposure to air gives off dangerous or intensely irritating fumes.
Lethal Concentration (LC 50) - Concentration of a inhaled substance that results in the death of 50 % of the test population. (the lower the value the more toxic the substance). Lc 50 is an inhalation exposure expressed in parts per million (ppm), mg/liter.
Lethal Dose, 50 percent ( LD 50 ) - Concentration of a ingested or injected substance that results in the death of 50 % of the test population. ( the lower the dose the more toxic the substance ). LD 50 is an oral or dermal exposure expressed in mg/kg.
Mutagen - Materials that cause changes in the genetic system of a cell in ways that can be transmitted during cell division.
Neurotoxic Agent - Chemicals that affect the central nervous system.
Olfactory - Related to the sense of smell.
Poison - Any material that when taken into the body is injurious to health.
Somatic - Pertaining to all tissues other than reproductive cells.
Teratogen - Chemicals that interfere with the normal growth of an embryo, causing malformations in the developing fetus.
Toxicity - Ability of a substance to do harm within the body.
Toxic Material - Substances that can be poisonous if inhaled, swallowed, absorbed, or introduced into the body through cuts or breaks in the skin.
Toxin - Substance that has the property of being poisonous.
I left out some of the real common definitions like heat exposure, and hypothermia, among others. These words are ones that you will see on the M.S.D.S's ( Material Safety Data Sheets ) that you should have, and they are the ones that you need to understand.
"Don't waste time calculating your chances of success
and failure. Just fix your aim and begin" ----- Guan Yin Tzu
