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