Threats

Because each of the more than 800 CERCLA hazardous substances each have their own properties and behaviors, the potential for exposure and the nature of the effects vary widely. The many ways in which people can enter the exposure pathway of hazardous substances are often determined by the size, nature, and location of the release as well as the type of substances involved. The resulting health and ecological hazards can be harmful or even deadly.

First understanding and then coping with the wide array of potential dangers posed by hazardous substances are the challenges faced by thousands of emergency response personnel at the federal, state, and local levels. Whether the incident involves the accidental release or the "midnight dumping" (intentional release) of hazardous substances, emergency responders are in a constant state of readiness to protect communities from exposure and contamination under a wide range of circumstances. A key to the success of the Superfund Emergency Response program has been an understanding of the one element common to every response--time. Prompt action is crucial.

You can see what types of hazardous substances have been released and reported to the federal government and where they have occurred by using the National Response Center Data Query Page