Hazardous materials awareness

Properties of hazardous materials

objectives

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

Thermal Mechanical Poisonus Corrosive Asphyxiation Radiation Etiological

Thermal effects

Heat exposure, either fire or wearing protective equipment

Cold exposure, primarily from croygenic materials

Examples of cryogenic materials

Liquid oxygen Liquid nitrogen Liquid helium Liquid hydrogen Liquified natrual gas

Mechanical effects

Physical contact with objects, such as; Bruises punctures and

cuts from container edges

Flying objects as a result of explosions or rapid releases

Poisonus effects

Will cause damage to organs or body systems and include;

Nephrotoxins Hematoxins Neurotoxins hepatotoxins

Examples of poisons

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 Causes damage to

metals and flesh May ignite nearby

combustibles Includes acids and

bases

Acids and bases

Contact with acids causes immediate pain and chemical burns

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

Burning arouns eyes, nose mouth Nausea and vomiting Difficulty breathing, swallowing or

coughing Localized burning or skin irritation

Examples of acids and bases

Acids Hydrochloric acid Nitric acid Sulfuric acid

Bases Caustic soda Potassium hydroxide Any alkaline materials

Asphyxiation effects Simple asphyxiants are generally inert

gases that displace or crowd out oxygen from the surrounding air

Examples include; Acetylene Carbon dioxide Helium Hydrogen Nitrogen Methane ethane

Asphyxiation effects

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

Hydrazine breaks the bond between hemoglobin and the red blood cells, making the blood cell useless

Benzene and tolulene destroy hemoglobin altogether

Radiation effects

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

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

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

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

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

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

This includes microorganisms and toxins that can cause severe disease

Examples include Hiv, hepatitis, meningitis, typhoid, anthrax, etc.

Other hazards

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

Carcinogens are cancer causing agents

Mutagens are materials that can damage heridetary genes, and pass on health problems

Teratogens can cause damage to the unborn fetus

Examples of carcinogens

Polyvinyl chloride Asbestos Chlorinated hydrocarbons Arsenic Nickle Some pesticides and plastics

Examples of mutagens

Radioactive materials Ethylene oxide Benzene

Examples of teratogens

Ionizing radiation Ethyl alchol Methyl mercury Thalidomide Dioxine Infections like rubella

Routes of entry

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