HEALTH EFFECTS TO EXPOSURE OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS

WHAT ARE EFFECTS TO EXPOSURE OF CHEMICALS?
Toxicology and Health Information

The consequences of exposure, if any, by inhalation, skin or eye contact, or ingestion are outlined in this section. The signs, symptoms and effects that the exposure could produce are described so that any exposure would be recognized as quickly as possible and the appropriate action taken.

The organs that are more susceptible to attack are referred to as target organs. The effects and damage that exposure could produce on these organs are given together with the symptoms. Some of the terms used that may be less familiar or which may have a specific inference in MSDS are defined below:

• Acute Effect: An adverse effect on a human or animal resulting from a single exposure with symptoms developing almost immediately after exposure. The effect is often of short duration.

• Chronic Effect: An adverse effect on a human or animal body resulting from repeated low level exposure, with symptoms that develop slowly over a long period of time or that reoccur frequently.

• Corrosive: A liquid or solid that causes visible destruction or irreversible alterations in human or animal tissue.

• Irritation: An inflammatory response or reaction of the eye, skin or respiratory system.

• Allergic Sensitization: A process whereby on first exposure a substance causes little or no reaction in humans or test animals, but which on repeated exposure may cause a marked response not necessarily limited to the contact site.

Skin sensitization is the most common form of sensitization in the industrial setting, although respiratory sensitization is also known to occur.

• Teratogen: A substance or agent to which exposure of a pregnant female can result in malformations (birth defects) to the skeleton and or soft tissue of the fetus.

• Mutagen: A substance or agent capable of altering the genetic material in a living organism.

• Carcinogen: A substance or agent capable of causing or producing cancer in humans or animals. Authorities/ organizations that have evaluated whether or not a substance is a carcinogen are the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) and OSHA.

• Target Organ Effects: Chemically-caused effects upon organs and systems such as the liver, kidneys, nervous system, lungs, skin, and eyes from exposure to a material.