Hazardous Waste

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Even if you use them properly, many chemicals can still harm human health and the environment. When you throw these substances away, they become hazardous waste. Some hazardous wastes come from products in our homes. Our garbage can include such hazardous wastes as old batteries, bug spray cans and paint thinner. U.S. residents generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year. Hazardous waste is also a by-product of manufacturing.
You may have hazardous wastes in your basement or garage. How do you get rid of them? Don't pour them down the drain, flush them or put them in the garbage. See if you can donate or recycle. Many communities have household hazardous waste collection programs. Check to see if there is one in your area.

Environmental Protection Agency

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

Hazardous materials

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Hazardous Waste is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
From the National Institutes of Health

National Institutes of Health

full-text ► Hazardous materials: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Hazardous materials

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Hazardous materials are substances that could harm human health or the environment if they are not handled the right way. Hazardous means dangerous.
Hazard communication is teaching people how to work with hazardous materials and waste. It is also called HazCom.
There are many different kinds of hazardous materials. Some of them are:

Chemicals, like some that are used for cleaning
Drugs, like chemotherapy to treat cancer
Radioactive material that is used for x-rays or radiation treatments
Human or animal tissue, blood, or other substances from the body that may carry harmful germs
Gases that are used to make patients sleep during surgery

Hazardous materials can harm you if they:

Touch your skin
Splash into your eyes
Get into your airways or lungs when you breathe
Cause fires or explosions

Your hospital or workplace will have policies about how to deal with these materials. You will receive special training if your work with these materials.