Chemical Health Hazards
Chemicals that are health hazards can damage an exposed person's tissue, vital organs, or internal systems.
Generally, the higher the chemical's toxicity, the lower the amount or dose necessary for it to have harmful effects. The effects vary from person to person, ranging from temporary discomfort to permanent damage. The extent of damage depends upon dose, toxicity, and duration of exposure to the chemical.
Health effects range from short-duration symptoms that often appear immediately (acute effects) to persistent symptoms that usually appear after longer exposures (chronic effects). Health effects can be classified by how they affect tissue, vital organs, or internal systems.
Examples of chemical hazards and how they affect the body include:
- carcinogens cause cancer
- corrosives damage living tissue
- hematopoietic agents affect the blood system
- hepatotoxins cause liver damage
- irritants cause inflammation of living tissue
- nephrotoxins damage cells or tissues of the kidneys
- neurotoxins damage tissues of the nervous system
- reproductive toxins damage reproductive systems, endocrine systems, or a developing fetus
- sensitizers cause allergic reactions
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-5. Which chemical hazard below may cause an inflammation of living tissue?
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