Hazardous Materials
When the average person thinks about hazardous materials, there is a good chance that the items that come to mind are those covered by the media. The material involved is typically some horrible chemical that was either leaking for years unbeknownst to a factory or spilled when a train derailed and upended a tanker car. In either situation, the story usually explains how the health and safety of an entire community is now at risk. While these situations are serious, fortunately, they are rare.
Hazardous materials like PCBs and asbestos were widely used when they first became available. In the early 1900s, many trade workers were exposed to numerous health hazards through such things as the PCBs used in the oils that lubricated electrical generators and asbestos used in the manufacture of fire-resistant materials. However, when the harmful physical properties of these substances were discovered, they all but disappeared from industrial use. The workplace still offers the potential for exposure to many dangerous substances. Many communities have passed regulations designed to inform workers about hazardous materials that their employment exposes them to on a regular basis. However, most industrial materials that can cause serious personal injuries are well regulated, and often, information is offered to those required to work with them.
Now the most widely overlooked depository of hazardous materials is perhaps a person's own home. Some hazardous substances, like household molds and bacteria, pose a risk to the occupant only if there is a pre-existing sensitivity, such as an allergy. Other hazardous materials lurk in the garages and workshops and under the bathroom and kitchen sinks without much concern, yet they have the potential to pose just as serious a threat from repeated exposure, or even a single contamination, through misuse. Household hazardous waste has now become a nationwide concern and educating people as to the importance of its proper disposal is crucial.
Hazardous materials in the home are not regulated in the same way as hazardous wastes from industry, businesses, and farms because of the difficulty in enforcement. Household wastes have been specifically exempted under the federal law regulating hazardous waste disposal for this reason. Even so, the accumulated environmental impact from household hazardous wastes poses a significant risk. However, this risk can also be managed, so long as the proper precautions are followed.
Poisonous substances present the most obvious hazard; however, there are many other, less-known substances. The hazardous component of a material can be present due to a material's ability to ignite or explode (such as gasoline) or its ability to react with and degrade other materials (such as corrosives). Oven and drain cleaners can damage materials not designed to withstand the chemical reaction they cause. In addition, these things can result in rashes and chemical burns on human skin, and more serious injury if ingested. Lawn care products like pesticides and weed killers can be toxic. Family pets are especially vulnerable to chemicals that are used on lawns. Less obvious substances, like pool additives, can explode if not stored properly and batteries can release dangerous chemicals. Even things such as oil and latex house paint and nail polish can cause harm to the environment if disposed of before drying. Radioactive materials can also found in the home in seemingly benign devices. Smoke detectors, microwave ovens, and static eliminators all can have radioactive components, which can damage human cell development and impair the ability to replicate.
Older homes can pose special risks due to the widespread use of building materials manufactured with hazardous materials, in early years. Lead can lurk in older layers of paint and asbestos can be found in old ceiling and floor tiles and linoleum. Remodeling to remove the old materials can make the situation more acute. The process of removing the hazardous materials can contaminate the air as particles of the materials become trapped in the air and heating vents, which can be blown around and inhaled as the air is heated or cooled.
Old and new homes alike have problems with moisture, molds, mildew and dust mites resulting from changes in humidity levels, or from poorly maintained humidifiers and air-conditioners. These contaminants not only may cause allergies to flare, which can compound the health problems being experienced by asthma sufferers and those with other respiratory problems. More seriously, inhaled irritants, like formaldehyde, can escape from draperies and other textiles, as well as particleboard products such as cabinets and furniture framing. Additionally, a well-known hazardous indoor material is tobacco smoke.
The content on a product label is subject to much government regulation in hopes of providing you with information you will read, so it is important to get in the habit of reading labels. Products that have been used without thought for years should get a fresh look. Product advertising is always touting a "new" and "improved" version of a product. "New and improved" could also mean new safety precautions are suggested that change the way in which the product should be used, stored, or disposed of when consumed. The label will also tell you what you need to know to protect yourself, others, pets, and the environment in the use, storage, and disposal of a product.
If you have used a product that you feel was responsible for a serious physical reaction suffered by you or a family member, your first concern should be to seek proper medical attention. You should supply to your health care provider with an exact description of the product used and the length of exposure to it. If possible, do not dispose of the container, and show it your health care provider. You may also wish to consult with an attorney concerning your injury and any lasting effects you may have as a result, as well as any property damage that was caused by use of the product. If the product manufacturer failed to adequately warn of the possible hazards or explain how to use the product so as to avoid injury, you may be entitled to compensation and an attorney can advise you regarding how to proceed.
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Hazardous Materials: What Do I Need to Do if I Have Been Injured By a Hazardous Material?
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