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Toxic Metals and Their Health Effects
- 1. TOXIC METALS AND ELEMENTS PRESENTED BY: ONWUSIRIBE ROSEMARY N PHE 106: ENVIROMENTAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
- 2. CONTENT • CERCLA priority list of hazardous substances • Overview of sources and effects of exposure to metals • Toxic heavy metal • Essential metal with Potential for Toxicity • Cases/incidences when toxic metals and element had an effect on community health • Related policies and laws for control • References
- 3. Hazardous Substance Priority List (SPL) • The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of Section 104 as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list.
- 4. In order of priority, substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and Which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these NPL sites.
- 5. • List is revised and published on a 2-years basis • Prioritizes substances is based on frequency of occurrence at NPL sites, toxicity, and potential for human exposure to the substances found at NPL sites.
- 6. Importance of this list • To rank substances across all NPL hazardous waste sites • Provide guidance in selecting which substances will be the subject of toxicological profiles prepared by ATSDR.
- 8. Overviewo This refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous even at low concentration. o Heavy metals are natural constituent of the earth crust but indiscriminate human activity has drastically altered its geochemical cycle and biochemical balance o Toxic metal = heavy metal o Its average safety level in food and water is misleadingly high.
- 9. SOURCES
- 10. • RUSTED CHAINS
- 12. PROPERTIES
- 13. EXPOSURE PATHWAY & EFFECT
- 17. IN PLANTS o Leads to acidification of the soil, causing stress and uptake of nutrient for growth difficult.
- 18. IN AGUATIC LIFE o Toxic metals affect the oxygen concentration, PH level and temperature of the aquatic ecosystem o Poisoning o Death of fishes and other aquatic life.
- 19. IN HUMAN • Deposited into tissues. • Causes Infection. • Damaging biosynthesis: Interfere, block, replace, and poison many aspects of biosynthesis of RNA and DNA. • Weakening body structures: example, lead, fluoride, aluminum and other toxic metals that find their way into the bones weaken the bones.
- 20. • General enzyme damage: They replace nutrient minerals in enzyme binding site. • Abnormal fetal development. • May also replace other substances in other tissue structures, such as the arteries, joints, bones and muscles, and weakened them.
- 21. ALUMINUM o It is called the soft in the head mineral, because it is associated with memory loss and dementia. Aluminum is a soft metal and a dangerous one. Sources Anti- Perspirants: Roll-on Table salt Tap water: Due to addition of alum Food cans, cookware or aluminum foil, baking powders, and some cosmetics such as blush.
- 22. ARSENIC • It is call arsenic the slow death mineral. • Its colorless and tasteless so kills easily • Arsenic can get into commercial eggs and other farm produce, and into most drinking water supplies as it leaches into the soil from farming and livestock operations. • It is used in pesticides and as a result, may be found in commercial wines, beers, fruits, vegetables, rice. • Recently, rice grown in China has been found to be quite contaminated with arsenic
- 23. BROMINE Food source: • Breads • Clear-colored soda pop. • Mountain Dew, • Crystal Light, Sprite and others. • Bromine can damage the thyroid gland and replace iodine in all body tissues. This is quite serious.
- 24. CADMIUM • It is one of the violent elements. • It affects the personality and mood. • It toughens the tissues and hardens the arteries. • Military personal are reported to have high cadium • It is associated with heart disease, cancers of all kind, kidney disease, diabetes and other serious health problems.
- 25. • It is widespread in the air, as it is used in brake linings of cars, metal plating due to its durabilty. • Tobacco cigarette, marijuana and cannabis oil contain cadmium which boosts the sodium level, causing poisoning • Used as a catalyst in some hydrogenated products such as commercial peanut butter and margarine.
- 26. LEAD • Lead is called the horror mineral because it is associated with violence, hyperactivity, and many other neurological problems. • Pesticides used on fruits, vegetables and many other foods may contain lead. • Paint and hair dyes, • Medications, cosmetics
- 27. MERCURY • Mercury may be called the mad hatters mineral. • It affect the CNS • Dental fillings. • Fish and seafood • Large fish e.g. tuna, shark, king mackerel, shellfish. • Seaweed: kelp is advisable to be eaten
- 28. COPPER • Copper is not a toxic metal. • Accumulation causes many health problems. • It affects CNS and female organs. • Its toxicity is associated with migraine, premenstrual syndrome, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenias and seizures. • Impair the conversion of T4 to T3, contributing to thyroid imbalances.
- 29. IRON • Iron is a vital mineral. However, acquired iron toxicity is extremely common. • The iron in a toxic form, is very irritating and pro- inflammatory. • Sources include excesssive intake of red meat ,iron pills or mineral supplements containing iron “iron-enriched” e.g. breads and white flour. • Nutritional balance and Anti-oxidants is encouraged to help reduce the inflammation.
- 30. URANIUM The main sources are air polluted with radioactive particles • Uranium is radioactive, in radon gas found in some homes. • It can damage the lungs and other organs, • It damages DNA, and is associated with higher levels of cancer and other diseases.
- 31. • Aircraft exhaust, industrial smoke and products from incinerators • Mercury and coal-fired power plants. • Uranium exposure : Nuclear bomb tests and X- rays, CT scans, PET scans • Medications • Insectides • Food grown near industrial plants
- 32. CASES/INCIDENCES WHEN TOXIC METALS HAD AN EFFECT
- 33. 1. 1932-1956 Minamata • Sewage containing mercury was released by Chissos chemicals works into Minimata Bay the factory wastewater in Japan. • Inevitably, these pollutants had an environmental impact. Fisheries were damaged in terms of reduced catches and in response Chisso reached two separate compensation agreements with the fishery cooperative in 1926 and 1943. • In 1956, the consumption of fish polluted with mercury, caused nearly 2000 fatalities.
- 34. Minamata or chisso disease
- 35. 2. 1986-Nov. 01 Sandoz Chemical Spill • Water used to extinguish a major fire carries fungicide containing mercury into the upper Rhine turning it red. Fish were killed over a stretch of 100 km. • This occurred in Switzerland.
- 36. 3. 1998-04 Disaster at Spanish Nature Reserve • Toxic metals in water from a burst dam of a mine waste containing sulphur, lead, copper, zinc and cadmium flow down the Rio Guadiamar in southern Spain. • Spanish nature reserve was permanently damaged after this environmental disaster.
- 38. 4. Seveso disaster in Italy(1976) • An industrial accident that occurred in a small chemical manufacturing plant and resulted in the highest known exposure to dioxin (TCDD) in residential areas • Killed 3,300 animals, mostly poultry and rabbits • Infected 80,000 animals had been slaughtered
- 39. • 1600 people were infected with skin lesion called “Chloracne”
- 40. 5. Ajka Alumina Sludge Spill in Hungary (2010) • An industrial accident at a caustic waste reservoir chain of an alumina plant. • A dam collapsed releasing approx. 1 million cubic meters of liquid waste from red mud lakes. • The toxic mud wave flooded several nearby localities and villages, killed 10 and injured up to 150 people. • About 40 square kilometers of land and the Danube river system were contaminated.
- 41. Town covered in red mud
- 42. 6. Philex's Padcal mine. (Aug 1, 2012) • Mining spill causing the release of 20.6 million tons of toxic tailings into water bodies • The biggest mining disaster which occurred in Benguet, Philippines. • Lead to destruction livelihoods, indigenous cultures and ways of life
- 45. • Minamata: The Law Concerning Relief of Pollution- related Health Damage 1970 • Sandoz Chemical Disaster Rhine Action Programme (RAP) of 1987. • Seveso disaster in Italy (1976) Seveso II, Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances
- 46. • Philex's Padcal mine The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 Philippine Mining Act of 1995
- 49. I. EDUCATION • Education aimed at individuals or communities level • Raise awareness • Increase knowledge • Change attitudes and behaviour. • Education should seek to persuade people to adopt a “poison prevention” oriented lifestyle.
- 50. • Education aiming at social and environmental change The public, policy-makers, decision-makers at all levels need to be educated about health hazards and potential health risks due to chemicals. For example, decision-makers in the health sector need epidemiological data such as the number of people exposed to pesticides or metal effect. communities need to know about the potential toxicity of chemicals such as solvents, carbon monoxide and pesticides. When new laws are introduced, or environmental changes made, to promote safety, health education is important to inform people about the reason for the changes and about the expected
- 51. II. Risk communication/alerts about chemical risks
- 52. Labelling • Product labels are an essential part of hazard communication, providing the user with information about the chemical nature of the hazard, the identity of the substance, advice in case of exposure, instructions for storage and use, and cautions or warnings. • Information may be given in words or presented in symbols or pictograms.
- 53. Technology and design Packaging • To prevent any leakage that might occur under normal conditions of transport • Child Resistant Package • Taste deterrents have been added to dangerous liquids,to prevent ingestion of toxic amounts by small children.
- 54. III. Legislation on Mining Industry • Mining industries should be adequately monitored for waste disposal • Polluter-Pay policy should be implemented • illegal mining and tailing in community should be penalized • Licensing • Adequate checking of pipes for leakage.
Editor's Notes
- Agency of toxic substance and diseae registry EPA environmental protection agency
- Any toxic metal ca be called heavy metal since heavy metal has the propensity to accumulate in selective body organ
- RUSTED CHAINS
- Leads to acidificatin of the soil, causing stress and uptake of nutrient for growth difficult.
- Depositing in tissues. causing local irritation and other toxic effects. Infection: Some toxic metals support development of fungal, bacterial and viral infections that are difficult or impossible to eradicate until the cause is removed. Damaging biosynthesis.: Minerals are very involved in the production of all chemicals in our bodies from DNA and RNA. They are needed as raw materials for body chemicals, for enzymes that participate in the synthesis of all of our chemicals, and for more. Toxic metals interfere, block, replace, and poison many aspects of biosynthesis. Weakening body structures: For example, lead, fluoride, aluminum and other toxic metals that find their way into the bones weaken the bones.
- An affected enzyme may operate at 5% of normal activity. May also replace other substances in other tissue
- ALUMINUM Aluminum is called the soft in the head mineral because it is associated with memory loss and dementia. Aluminum is a soft metal and a dangerous one. It is very common in the environment, and almost everyone shows some aluminum toxicity on their hair tests. Among the most important sources are: 1. Anti-perspirants. Modern anti-perspirants all contain toxic aluminum compounds. The deodorant stones and deodorant crystals are no better, even though they are “natural”. Use an old-fashioned deodorant instead, or spray some dilute hydrogen peroxide or some liquid soap like Dr. Bronner’s soap under your arms instead. 2. Tap water. Towns and cities in many nations routinely add aluminum to their tap water as a flocculating agent (to remove dirt particles). This is a horrible practice. 3. Table salt. A lot of table salt contains added aluminum as an anti-caking agent and should never be eaten! Natural sea salt is much better. 4. Food cans, cookware or aluminum foil. Beverages in aluminum cans or food cooked in aluminum may contain elevated levels of aluminum. Some cans are coated on the inside, and this is better. 5. Other. Aluminum is also found in some baking powders, and some cosmetics such as blush. Peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen teas are naturally high in aluminum. For more details about aluminum, read Aluminum and Aluminum, Iron and Manganese – The Amigos on this website.
- ARSENIC I call arsenic the slow death mineral. Its symptoms are vague, and it was used to kill people because it is colorless and tasteless, so it was added to food and slowly killed people. Today, arsenic is still a common toxin. It may legally be added to chicken feed (Roxsarone) according to the corrupt US Food And Drug Administration (the FDA) and the somewhat corrupt US Department of Agriculture (USDA). I believe Europe has banned arsenic in chicken feed. Arsenic can get into commercial eggs, all pig products such as pork, ham, bacon and lard, and into most US drinking water supplies as it leaches into the soil from farming and livestock operations. Organic chicken and eggs should be better. Avoid all pig products due to parasite problems, even if well-cooked, and to avoid the arsenic. Arsenic is used in pesticides and, as a result, may be found in commercial wines, beers, fruits, vegetables, rice and other foods. Once again, organically grown should be better. Recently, rice grown in China has been found to be quite contaminated with arsenic. For much more on this topic, read Arsenic Toxicity And The USDA/FDA Cover-up and Arsenic on this website. ARSENIC I call arsenic the slow death mineral. Its symptoms are vague, and it was used to kill people because it is colorless and tasteless, so it was added to food and slowly killed people. Today, arsenic is still a common toxin. It may legally be added to chicken feed (Roxsarone) according to the corrupt US Food And Drug Administration (the FDA) and the somewhat corrupt US Department of Agriculture (USDA). I believe Europe has banned arsenic in chicken feed. Arsenic can get into commercial eggs, all pig products such as pork, ham, bacon and lard, and into most US drinking water supplies as it leaches into the soil from farming and livestock operations. Organic chicken and eggs should be better. Avoid all pig products due to parasite problems, even if well-cooked, and to avoid the arsenic. Arsenic is used in pesticides and, as a result, may be found in commercial wines, beers, fruits, vegetables, rice and other foods. Once again, organically grown should be better. Recently, rice grown in China has been found to be quite contaminated with arsenic. For much more on this topic, read Arsenic Toxicity And The USDA/FDA Cover-up and Arsenic on this website.
- The concept that when we ingest or are exposed to a toxic metal, our bodies and our minds take on the qualities of the mineral is called the anthropomorphic quality of minerals. It means that each mineral – both the vital minerals and the toxic metals – have human-like qualities such as hardness, softness, or malleability, and they influence us. …. For example, many modern city women have high cadmium that allows them to function in male-oriented jobs such as being company executives. Cadmium helps them and others, such as prostitutes, to act more tough and to handle lots of stress.
- Lead is called the horror mineral because it is associated with violence, lowered IQ, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, and many other neurological problems. Lead is a widely distributed toxic metal due to its many uses in industry. Pesticides used on fruits, vegetables and many other foods may contain lead, among other toxic metals. Lead was added to gasoline until the 1970s in the USA and elsewhere. Now gasoline contains a highly toxic form of manganese, instead. Old house paint, current paint used on ships of all sizes, a few hair dyes, lubricants, medications, cosmetics such as lipstick and others, inks, and perhaps other products may contain lead. Glazes used on cookware in some nations still contains lead that can come off onto the food
- Mercury may be called the mad hatters mineral. People who made raccoon skin hats in the mid 1800s in America and Europe developed mercury toxicity after a few years from rubbing mercury on felt to soften it. Many became mentally and emotionally deranged after a few years of working in the hat factories. Large fish concentrate mercury a million times or more. The federal government recently issued a warning that pregnant and lactating women should avoid tuna, shark, king mackerel, shellfish.
- Iron can give drinking water a slight yellowish color. Holding on to anger can increase iron in the body. Many babies today are born with too much toxic iron, just as they are born with too much of many toxic substances.
- URANIUM The main sources of uranium are air polluted with radioactive particles from A-bomb tests, nuclear power plant emissions, nuclear plant accidents such as the Fukishima disaster recently in Japan, and perhaps some foods contaminated with uranium from the same sources. Uranium is radioactive, as is radon gas found in some homes. It can damage the lungs and other organs, it damages DNA, and is associated with higher levels of cancer and other diseases. General Food Sources. Food grown near highways or downwind of industrial plants may contain lead and other toxic amounts of metals. Even organic home gardens may be contaminated if, for example, old house paint containing lead leaches lead into the soil. Sprays and insecticides still often contain lead, arsenic, mercury and other toxic metals. Refining of food often contaminates the food with aluminum, as it is found in water supplies everywhere and it may be used in some food refining processes. Also, some food refining removes the protective zinc, chromium and manganese from food and leaves the toxic metals in some cases, such as cadmium. This makes white flour even more toxic, as with white sugar, and is another reason to totally avoid these foods. Airborne Sources of Toxic Metals. Most toxic metals are effectively absorbed by inhalation. Auto, ship and aircraft exhaust, industrial smoke and products from incinerators are among the airborne sources of toxic metals and other chemicals. Mercury and coal-fired power plants. Burning coal can release mercury, lead and cadmium among other metals. Iranian and Venezuelan oil are high in vanadium. Coal plants should have scrubbers, as they do in the United States. However, India and China, in particular, often do not have scrubbers on their power plants. They may not realize the damage their plants are causing to the entire world due to pollution of the air, water and food supplies. Uranium exposure is largely from airborne sources such as nuclear bomb tests and accidents at nuclear power plants. All nuclear power plants also emit some low-level radiation, as does uranium refining and medical use of nuclear material. X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and dental x-rays also add to our burden of ionizing radiation today. Fortunately, some of this can be removed with a nutritional balancing program. Incineration can be clean. Older methods of incineration of electronic parts, plastics, treated fabrics, batteries and even diapers release all the toxic metals into the air. The use of scrubbers and newer methods of very high temperature incineration are much better. Cadmium and mercury in papers. Cigarette and marijuana smoke are high in cadmium, and cadmium is found in cigarette and joint rolling paper. It helps keep the drugs burning. Pesticides used on these crops may contain lead, arsenic and other toxic metals. Medications and toxic metals. Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs contain toxic metals. Cipro (fluoquinolone antibiotics) and anti-depressants such as Prozac (fluoxetine) are fluoride-containing drugs, for example. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, is still used in many vaccines, including most flu shots, even when doctors deny it, I am told. Independent evaluation of a large study that is part of the Centers For Disease Control Vaccine Safety Datalink concluded that: “Children are 27 times as likely to develop autism after exposure to three thimerisol-containing vaccines than those who receive thimerisol-free versions” . Thiazide diuretics contain mercury. These include Maxzide, Diazide and many others. Antacids such as Ryopan, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta and many others are very high in aluminum. Direct Skin Contact As A Source Of Toxic Metals. Almost all anti-perspirants and many cosmetics contain aluminum. Dental amalgams contain mercury, copper and other metals. Dental bridges and other appliances often contain nickel. Prostheses and pins used to hold bones together may contain nickel and other toxic metals, although most are titanium and stainless steel, which are much better. Copper intra-uterine devices (IUDs) release lots of copper into the body. This can cause depression, and other problems for some women. Soaps, body lotions and creams often contain toxic compounds. A few hair dyes and commercial high-end lipsticks contain lead. Selsun Blue shampoo contains selenium that is quite toxic. Head N Shoulders shampoo is much safer and contains zinc, but not selenium. Household lawn and garden chemicals may contain lead, arsenic and other compounds. Mercury treated seeds and arsenic-treated wood are other common sources of toxic metals. Occupational exposure to toxic metals is important for many occupations today. Among the worst are plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, printers, ironworkers, and other metal workers. Workers need to wear gloves, masks and take other precautions when handling inks, metals and other toxic materials. CONGENITAL TOXIC METALS
- Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurologicalsyndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses. Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata City in Kumamoto prefecture, Japanin 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater (point source pollution) from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. This highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which when eaten by the local populace resulted in mercury poisoning. While cat, dog, pig and human deaths continued over more than 30 years, the government and company did little to prevent the pollution. As of March 2001, 2,265 victims had been officially recognized (1,784 of whom had died) and over 10,000 had received financial compensation from Chisso. By 2004, Chisso Corporation had paid $86 million in compensation, and in the same year was ordered to clean up its contamination. Lawsuits and claims for compensation continue to this day.
- Sandoz Chemical Disaster On November 1, 1986, a fire broke out at the Sandoz chemical storehouse at Schweizerhalle, an industrial area near Basel, Switzerland. The fire destroyed the entire storehouse, contaminating the environment with more than a thousand tons of chemicals. The water used by fire fighters to combat the fire inadvertently swept thousands of litres of highly toxic pesticides and deadly mercury into the Rhine River, turning the water red and killing nearly all plant and animal life for 180 kilometres downstream and making the river water temporarily unsafe for drinking. Fourteen people had to be treated for fume poisoning. Sandoz has been the most severe chemical accident in Swiss history and one the greatest environmental disasters in Europe. It triggered significant progress towards the prevention of such disasters through legal regulations and controls as well as transboundary cooperation, such as the Rhine Action Programme (RAP) of 1987.
- oñana Disaster, also known as the Aznalcollar Disaster or Guadiamar Disaster
- It was investigated Lead to low sperm count Abortion and infertility Those in charge where sentendced to some terms in the prison because of their initial denial on the elease of dioxin
- Town covered with red mud
- Philex’s TP3 has two penstocks (A & B), two hollow elongated structures located at the south end of its main dike. These penstocks have diversion tunnels heading downward east toward the Balog River. The penstocks have sidewalls or stop-boards, but open at the top where overflow water of the tailings pond enters and drains to the drainage tunnel below it. These form a channel for controlling the volume of the water flow, releasing water gradually when the water level in the penstocks reaches some 623 meters high, theoretically leaving the silt behind in the dam. Shattered penstocks A & B of Philex Mines’ tailings pond 3, Benguet, Aug 2012 (Contributed Photo / bulatlat.com) On the early hours of August 1 during the rage of typhoons Ferdie and Gener, a report of a leak from TP3 coming out from one of the penstocks diversion tunnel portal prompted the company to initiate shut down, locals told Bulatlat.com. The initial investigation of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR showed that portions of the stop-boards might have been displaced by hydrostatic pressure brought about by the unusually heavy rains in the area for the last two weeks, according to Director Leo Jasareno. This coincided with the “force majeure” excuse cited by Philex. Fixing the displaced stop-boards could have remedied the problem, if this was the real reason for the leaks. But sources said the search for the leaks and the plugging operations have been “trial and error,” “on and off,” as one leak after another occurred. Worse, the leak comes from the dam crest, or bottom/ground of the dam itself. Eddie Amuasen and Lope J. Milo, Jr., chairman of Ampucao, one of the biggest villages of Itogon, Benguet, and chairman of village environment committee, respectively, told the FFM that “due to overcapacity, the foundation gave way at the base of the dam under great pressure.” The great pressure came not just from the storm and the rainwater but also from the years of accumulated tailings in the dam. It has reached its maximum lifespan, after all. As the leak or hole is at the dam’s ground, “Instead of surface release (with the penstocks), the tailings – both water and silt – spilled in huge volumes through the ground spill,” Ampucao village leaders told members of the FFM. The water pressure was “very strong, with the strong rush of murky water came explosions, big trees uprooted and the murky water as high as a mountain.” Trial-and-error plugging of the tailings dam’s sinkhole
- Education aimed at individuals or communities Prevention of poisoning and chemical safety should be something people learn throughout life in school, home, work and community settings. Education should aim to: • raise awareness • increase knowledge • change attitudes and behaviour. Education should seek to persuade people to adopt a “poison prevention” oriented lifestyle by providing them with information and understanding of prevention issues so that they can make their own well-informed decisions, and act on them, assuming responsibility for their own health. Rather than presenting a list of facts with “dos” and “don’ts”, the mod
- epidemiological data such as the number of people exposed to pesticides, or the number of hospital admissions due to snake bite or ingestion of kerosene. Communities need to know about the potential toxicity of chemicals such as solvents, carbon monoxide and pesticides. When new laws are introduced, or environmental changes made, to promote safety, health education is important to inform people about the reason for the changes and about the expected benefits, so that they understand why the changes are worthwhile. Well-informed members of the community are more concerned about chemical safety, and are more likely to comply with the law and to play an active part in improving the community
- (and the environment) are at risk of exposure, for example as a result of chemical spills, air, water and food contamination episodes, pharmaceutical tampering and other such incidents. In such cases, messages should quickly provide clear instructions about what to do, and information and education about prevention of poisoning. The messages have to be defined quickly, but carefully, so that they are truthful but do not give rise to panic, and have to be delivered quickly. For example, when toxic fumes from a chemical fire are approaching a highly populated area, the community needs to be alerted as to the measures to be taken. The same approach is needed when the tampering of medicines or contamination of food or beverages is identified as representing an immediate risk to the health of the community.
- Labelling Product labels are an essential part of hazard communication, providing the user with information about the chemical nature of the hazard, the identity of the substance, advice in case of exposure, instructions for storage and use, and cautions or warnings. Information may be given in words or presented in symbols or pictograms. Requirements relating to the labelling of various products of anything from cargo to containers sold to consumers, exist in most countries and are controlled by regulations and standards. The importance of labelling is emphasized by a number of internationally approved conventions and recommendations,