Poison Caustic Flammable Corrosive Benzene How might I
Poison
Caustic
Flammable
Corrosive
Benzene • How might I be exposed to benzene • Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles, and industrial emissions. • Vapors (or gases) from products that contain benzene, such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents, can also be a source of exposure. • Air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations will contain higher levels of benzene. • Working in industries that make or use benzene.
Benzene • How can benzene affect my health? • Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. • The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection. • Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries.
Mercury • How might I be exposed to mercury? • Eating fish or shellfish contaminated with methylmercury. • Breathing vapors in air from spills, incinerators, and industries that burn mercury-containing fuels. • Release of mercury from dental work and medical treatments. • Breathing contaminated workplace air or skin contact during use in the workplace (dental, health services, chemical, and other industries that use mercury).
Mercury • How can mercury affect my health? • The nervous system is very sensitive to mercury. Methylmercury and metallic mercury vapors are more harmful than other forms, because it reaches the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. • Short-term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapors may cause lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation.
Cyanide • How might I be exposed to cyanide? • Breathing air, drinking water, touching soil, or eating foods that contain cyanide. • Smoking cigarettes and breathing smoke-filled air during fires are major sources of cyanide exposure. • Breathing air near a hazardous waste site containing cyanide. • Eating foods naturally containing cyanide compounds, such as tapioca, lima beans, and almonds. However, the portions of these plants that are eaten in the United States contain relatively low amounts of cyanide.
Cyanide • How can cyanide affect my health? • You are not likely to be exposed to large enough amounts of cyanide in the environment to cause adverse health effects. The severity of the harmful effects following cyanide exposure depends in part on the form of cyanide, such as hydrogen cyanide gas or cyanide salts. Exposure to high levels of cyanide for a short time harms the brain and heart and can even cause coma and death. Workers who inhaled low levels of hydrogen cyanide over a period of years had breathing difficulties, chest pain, vomiting, blood changes, headaches, and enlargement of the thyroid gland
Chlorine • What happens to chlorine when it enters the environment? • Chlorine is very unstable and reacts with a variety of chemicals and water. • Chlorine is broken down by sunlight within a matter of several minutes. • Chlorine dissolves in water and converts into chloride. • If chlorine is spilled into water or onto soil or if it is released from a tank into the air, the chlorine will evaporate very quickly forming a greenish-yellow cloud that is heavier than air and can be carried by the wind several miles from the source.
Chlorine • You may be exposed to chlorine if you mix household chemicals such as toilet cleaner with bleach. Mixing household cleaners containing ammonia with bleach may also release dangerous chemicals intog the air. • You may be exposed to chlorine gas through the improper use of swimming pool chemicals. • People who work in places where chlorine is made or used may be exposed to low levels over a period of time.
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