CHEMICAL HAZARD
- Some chemicals can cause cancers, mutations, birth defects
- A toxic chemical is one that can cause temporary or permanent harm or
death to humans and animals.
-In 2004, the EPA listed arsenic, lead, mercury, vinyl chloride (used to make
PVC plastics), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as the top five toxic
substances in terms of human and environmental health.
There are three major types of potentially toxic agents:
Carcinogens
- (Chemicals, types of radiation, or certain viruses that can cause or promote
cancer)
Mutagens
- (Chemicals or forms of radiation that cause mutations, or changes, in the
DNA molecules found in cells, or that increase the frequency of such
changes)
Teratogens
- (Chemicals that cause harm or birth defects to a fetus or embryo)
