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a community than a large quantity of a less toxic gaseous material in an industrial site <br />upwind from a populated area. <br /> <br />The severity of any hazardous material release incident for an affected community <br />depends on several factors, including: <br /> a) the toxicity of the hazardous material, <br /> b) the quantity of the hazardous material released, <br /> c) the dispersal characteristics of the hazardous material, <br /> d) the local conditions such as wind direction and topography, soil and ground <br /> water characteristics and proximity to vulnerable resources such as public <br /> drinking water resources, <br /> e) the population of nearby areas likely to be affected by hazardous materials <br /> incidents, and <br /> f) the efficacy of response and recovery actions. <br /> <br />14.2 Effects of Hazardous Materials on Humans <br /> <br />There are three principal modes of human exposure to hazardous materials: <br /> a) Inhalation of gaseous or particulate materials via the respiratory (breathing) <br /> process, <br /> b) Ingestion of hazardous materials via contaminated food or water, and <br /> c) Direct contact with skin or eyes. <br /> <br />Exposure to hazardous materials can result in a wide range of negative health effects <br />on humans. Hazardous materials are generally classified by their health effects. The <br />most common classes of hazardous materials are summarized below. <br /> <br /> Flammable materials are substances where fire is the primary threat, <br /> although explosions and chemical effects listed below may also occur. <br /> Common examples include gasoline, diesel fuel, and propane. <br /> <br /> Explosives are materials where explosion is the primary threat, although fires <br /> and chemical effects listed below may also occur. Common examples include <br /> dynamite and other explosives used in construction or demolition. <br /> <br /> Irritants are substances that cause inflammation or chemical burns of the <br /> eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin or other tissues of the body in which they come <br /> in contact. Examples of irritants are strong acids such as sulfuric or nitric acid. <br /> <br /> Asphyxiants are substances which interfere with breathing. Simple <br /> asphyxiants cause injury or death by displacing the oxygen necessary for life. <br /> Nitrogen is a good example. Nitrogen is a normally harmless gas that <br /> constitutes about 78% of the atmosphere. However, nitrogen releases in a <br /> confined space may result in asphyxiation by displacing oxygen. Chemical <br /> asphyxiants are substances that prevent the body from using oxygen or <br /> otherwise interfere with the breathing process. Common examples are carbon <br /> monoxide and cyanides. <br /> <br />Public Review Draft: October 12, 2004 14-2 <br /> <br /> <br />