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Hazardous Material/Waste


Description

Hazardous Material/WasteHazardous wastes are discarded materials with properties that make them potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can include things such as chemicals, heavy metals, or substances generated as byproducts during commercial manufacturing processes, as well as discarded household products like paint thinners, cleaning fluids, and old batteries. Hazardous wastes can be in the form of liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges. Much of this hazardous material is stored in landfills or other containment areas. If these hazardous waste sites are not properly designed or managed, their contents can be released into the surrounding environment, posing a threat to public health. To address this issue, the NIEHS has created a Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP) to support the safety and health of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous waste and chemical emergency response.

What NIEHS is Doing on Hazardous Material/Waste

General Information

For Educators

Related Topics

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USA.gov Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health
This page URL: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/exposure/haz-waste/index.cfm
NIEHS website: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
Email the Web Manager at webmanager@niehs.nih.gov
Last Reviewed: December 29, 2008