Hazards, behavior, and identification of Haz Mat/WMD

Systematic Effect:

Damage spread through and entire system; opposite of a local effect, which is limited to a single location.

MOST COMMON INHIBITOR IS:

Phenol (Carbolic Acid)

Cryogens are oxidizers to:

Poisons

Chemical hazards include:

Poisons/toxins Corrosives Irritants Convulsants Carcinogens Sensitizers/allergens

Carcinogens are cancer causing agents and consist of:

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Benzene Asbestos Some chlorinated hydrocarbons Arsenic Nickel Some pesticides Many plastics

Alpha Radiation:

Positively charged alpha particles are emitted from the nucleus of heavy radioactive elements, such as uranium and radium. Alpha particles lose energy rapidly when travel long through matter; for example THEY CAN BE STOPPED WITH A SHEET OF PAPER. They can also be completely blocked by the outer layer of the human skin, so they are not a hazard outside the body. However, they can be very harmful if ingested or inhaled. Materials that emit alpha radiation are TYPICALLY SEALED, ENCASED, AND SHIELDED so that the presence of the radiation can not be detected. Sources of this radiation INCLUDE SOME TYPES OF SMOKE DETECTORS.

Beta Radiation:

Positively or negatively charged beta particles (protons and electrons) are emitted from the nucleus of radioactive elements such as tritium, carbon-14, and strontium-90. These fast moving particles are more penetrating than alpha particles. They can penetrate the outer layer of skin and cause radiation damage to the body, and they are even more harmful if ingested or inhaled. Beta particles can travel up to 20 feet (6m) through the air, but lose energy quickly as they do so. After traveling that distance they're can be stopped by a layer of clothing or .08 inches (2mm) of aluminum

Dispersion:

Process of being spread widely.

Viruses

Produce in the living cells of their hosts and do not respond to antibiotics.

Chemical asphyxiants are responsible for:

Prohibiting the body from processing available oxygen. Even small amounts such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide can be lethal.

Radiation Dose:

Quantity of radiation energy absorbed into the body.

Ionizing Radiation

Radiation that causes a chemical change in atoms by removing their electrons. Also the most hazardous.

Acute Doses:

Received over a short period of time. Some acute doses of radiation have no long term health effects, but others can produce hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or reduced blood count. Acute doses can also be lethal if the quantity of radiation is great enough. The radiation from a nuclear explosion can kill within a few hours.

Acute health effects:

Short term/ Rapid

Bacteria

Single celled organisms that do not typically cause disease. However, harmful bacteria can invade tissues and produce toxins.

Potential biological weapons include

Smallpox Anthrax Botulism (toxin from the bacteria clostridium botulinum)

Rickettsias

Specialized bacteria spread by infected fleas, ticks and lice. Like other bacteria, they are single-celled organisms that respond to antibiotics. But like viruses, they reproduce only in living cells.

The most critical properties of hazardous materials are:

State of matter Flammability Vapor pressure Boiling point Vapor density Solubility Specific Gravity Persistence Reactivity

Beta Radiation can be:

Stopped by clothing

Alpha Radiation can be:

Stopped by the skin

What are the 6 stages of GEBMO?

Stress, Breach, Release, Dispersion/ Engulf, Exposure/ contact, Harm

Hazardous material:

Substance that can be dangerous to human health or the environment if not properly controlled.

Catalyst:

Substance that modifies (usually increases) the rate of a chemical reaction, without being consumed in the process.

Strong oxidizer:

Substance that readily gives off large quantities of oxygen; thereby stimulating combustion; produces a strong reaction by readily accepting electrons from a reducing agent (fuel).

Inhibitor:

Substance that slows down or prevents a chemical reaction; typically added to materials that are prone to polymerization.

Book definition of Boiling point:

Temperature at which a liquid begins to boil, and vapor pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure. The rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of condensation, so more liquid is turning into gas than gas is turning into liquid.

Corrosive levels are expressed in

Terms of pH

Routed of entry is defined as:

The 4 main routes hazardous materials enter the body.

Vapor Density:

The weight of pure vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of air, at the same temperature and pressure. Ambient air has a vapor density of 1. A vapor density less than one indicates a vapor lighter than air while a vapor density greater than 1 indicates a vapor heavier than air. Most gases have a vapor density greater than 1. All vapors and gases mix with air, but LIGHTER MATERIALS TEND TO RISE AND DISSIPATE. Heavier vapors and gases tend to concentrate along under floors. This concentration created health and/fire hazards in dumps, sewers, manholes, trenches, and ditches.

TRACEM stands for:

Thermal Hazards Radiological Hazards Asphyxiation Hazards Chemical Hazards Etiological/biological Hazards Mechanical Hazards

Poisons/ Toxins:

Toxic chemicals can cause injury at the site where they contact the body, typically the skin and the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth and respiratory tract. These injuries are known as local toxic effects. Corrosive materials cause local damage to skin when touched, while irritant gases such as chlorine produce localized toxic effects in the respiratory tract when inhaled. But when toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream they are distributed throughout the body, producing systematic effects. Many pesticides are absorbed and distributed this way, causing seizures and cardiopulmonary problems. Many toxins have immediate, acute effects, but others have delayed, chronic effects. Some toxins also produce a combination of local and systematic effects, some of which do not manifest for many years. Neurotoxins produce systematic effects in the nervous system, by distributing nerve impulses.

Infectious:

Transmittable; able to infect people.

Polymerization

Two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules; this reaction can often be violent.

Liquified gases become partially liquid at what degree under charging pressure:

70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) Examples include propane and Carbon dioxide

Bases have a pH between

8 and 14

Acids have a pH between

0 and 6.9

Molten sulfur and Aluminum are shipped at:

1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (704 degrees Celsius)

Book Definition of Water Solubility:

Ability of a liquid or solid to mix with or dissolve in water.

Reactivity:

Ability of a substance to chemically react with other materials, and the speed with which that reaction takes place.

Liquified gases and Cryogenic liquids:

Absorb heat so quickly they can freeze nearby objects.

Corrosives are divided into two categories:

Acid and base

Hydrogen Peroxide is neither

Acid nor base.

The four types of ionizing radiation are:

Alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation.

Bases

Also known as alkalis or caustics, are water solvable compounds that break apart in water, forming negatively charged hydroxide ions. They have pH values of 8 to fo 14. Common examples include caustic soda and potassium hydroxide, both of which are used in common household cleaners. Contact with a base typically does not cause immediate pain, however, bases can cause severe eye damage because they adhere to tissues in the eye, making them difficult to remove. They also break down fatty skin sissies and can penetrate deeply into the body. A common sign of exposure to a base is a greasy or slick feeling of the skin, which is caused by the breakdown of fatty tissues. The corrosive action of strong acids generated tremendous heat, sometimes enough to start a fire or cause an explosion. Hydrochloride and other acids can also react with metal to form explosive hydrogen gas. Acids and bases can react violently when mixed together with water. This reaction is an important consideration during spill cleanup and decontamination.

dangerous goods

Alternate term for hazardous materials, used in Canada and other countries.

Biological toxins

Are produced by living organisms, even though the organism itself is usually not harmful. For example, ricin is a lethal toxin derived from castor beans. Other biological toxins are produced in laboratories to be used as biological weapons.

Asphyxiation Hazards:

Asphyxiants prevent the body from absorbing oxygen, which can result in death by suffocation.

Ion:

Atom that has lost or gained an electron, giving it a positive or negative charge.

Explosions create three types of mechanical Hazards:

Blast-pressure wave (shock-wave)- rapidly released gases create a shock wave that travels outward from the center of the blast, causing most of the injuries and damage. The farther the wave travels, the more it's force diminishes. Shrapnel fragmentation- debris thrown outwards in all directions, typically small pieces of the ruptured container or structure. Damages nearby objects and causes potentially fatal injuries. Seismic effect- blasts near ground level create shockwaves, causing the ground to shake as it would during an earthquake.

Sensitizers/allegens

Cause allergic reactions. Common examples include latex, bleach, and urushiol, which is a natural chemical found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Some people experience no symptoms at the first exposure, but develop severe reactions after subsequent exposures.

Mechanical Hazards

Cause injury through blunt physical force. Typically results from an explosion caused by a bomb or improvised explosive device (IED), the failure of a pressurized container, or the reactivity of the hazardous material.

Convulsants:

Cause involuntary muscle contraction (convulsions) examples include strychnine, organophosphates, carbamates, and uncommon drugs such as picrotoxin. They can cause death through asphyxiation or exhaustion.

Irritants

Cause temporary but sometimes severe inflammation to the eyes, skin, or respiratory system. Found in fertilizers, disinfectants, and solvents.

Low Temperature Hazards are:

Caused by liquified gases and cryogenic liquids.

Corrosive material:

Chemical that severely corrodes steel and damages human tissue.

Acids:

Chemicals that break down (ionize) water to yield hydrogen ions. They have pH values of 0 to 6.9. Common examples include nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloride acid. Contact with an acid typically causes immediate pain. And possible severe chemical burns or permanent eye damage.

Corrosives:

Chemicals that cause permanent damage to anything they touch. Can corrode metal or burn human tissue.

Chronic Doses:

Chronic doses are small amounts received over a long period of time. Health effects of these doses typically take years to develop because the body is able to repair some of the damage done by low levels of radiation. But chronic doses of even low levels of radiation can eventually be lethal. Everyday background exposure, such as the type experienced by workers in nuclear facilities, is known to cause cancer. Responders rarely develop health effects from exposure at a hazmat incident, especially if they take proper precautions. Even terrorist attacks are unlikely to produce dangerous levels of radiation. However, it is important to monitor for radiation at any incident involving explosions or suspected terrorism.

Hazard:

Condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss

Exposure:

Contact with a hazardous material, causing biological damage; typically by swallowing, breathing, or touching. Exposure may be short-term (acute exposure) of intermediate duration, or long-term (chronic exposure)

Neutron Radiation surely will

Create a second round of radiation as it passes through the body.

Contagious:

Easily transmitted from one person to another, either through contact or close proximity.

Activation energy:

Energy that starts a chemical reaction when added to an atomic or male cults system.

3 types of Contamination:

External contamination occurs when radioactive material is on the skin or clothing; if these do not protect against radiation damage, the contamination results in external exposure. Internal Contamination occurs when radioactive material is inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through wounds, causing internal exposure. Environmental contamination occurs when radioactive material spreads or is unshielded, creating another potential source of external exposure

Thermal Hazards involve:

Extreme heat or cold.

Personal Protective equipment is designed to protect all routes of entry such as:

Eyes Ears Nose Mouth Wrists Neck Hands Groin Underarms.

Gamma radiation:

Gamma rays consist of high energy photons that often accompany the emission of alpha or beta particles from a nucleus. Naturally occurring sources include potassium-40, and industrial sources include cobalt-40, iridium-192, and cesium-137. Gamma rays have no mass and electric charge, but they are highly penetrating. They can easily pass through the human body, inflicting severe radiation damage. They can be stopped by approximately 2 inches (50mm) of lead. 2 feet (0.6m) of concrete, or several feet (meters) of earth. However, standard firefighting clothing provides no protection.

Vapor pressure:

Gas released by a liquid, and vapor pressure measures a substances tendency to evaporate. Vapor pressure rises as the temperature increases.

Cryogens are:

Gases that turn into liquid at or below -130 degrees Fahrenheit (-90 degrees Celsius) at 14.7 psi. Examples include nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquified natural gas (LNG)

Simple asphyxiants are defined as:

Gases, such as nitrogen that displace oxygen.

What describes the typical events at an incident, and is broken into 6 stages?

General Emergency Behavior Mode (GEBMO)

TRACEM represents:

Hazard types that could damage ones health

Aspects of Hazardous Materials Include:

Health effects of exposure Routes of entry Properties and behavior Identification

Improvised Explosive device (IED):

Homemade bomb that is not deployed in a conventional military fashion.

The 4 main routes of entry are:

Inhalation- breathing in hazardous vapors, smoke, gases, fumes, liquid aerosols, and suspended dusts. Respiratory protection is required if hazardous materials pose an inhalation threat. Ingestion- Swallowing, either deliberately, or accidentally. Contact- Skin or some other exposed surface touches a solid, liquid, or gaseous hazardous material. Damage occurred only at the surface level; for example, contact with acid will severely damage the skin. Absorption- Material enters the body through the skin or eyes. Many poisons are absorbed this way. Absorption can also result from puncture within a contaminated object, such as a hypodermic needle.

A materials behavior is influenced by:

It's physical properties

Non-ionizing radiation:

Least energetic type of radiation and are Energy waves composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling at the speed of light. Examples include VISIBLE LIGHT, RADIO WAVES, MICROWAVES, INFRARED RADIATION, AND ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION.

Book Definition of Persistence:

Length of time a chemical agent remains active without dispersing.

Chronic Health effects:

Long term, such as cancer

Diseases that associate with etiological Hazards include

Malaria AIDS Typhoid

Elevated Temperature Material:

Material that meets any of the following criteria during transport: a) in a liquid case at or above 212 degrees Fahrenheit. b) intentionally heated at or above it's liquid phase flash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or c.) in a solid phase at or above 464 degrees Fahrenheit. Includes molten sulfur and molten aluminum, which are commonly stored at 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Routes of Entry

Means by which hazardous materials enter the body; inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, injection, absorption, and penetration.

Radiological Hazards are most common at:

Medical Centers, Nuclear power plants, research facilities, and transportation incidents. May also be present in terrorist attacks and some industrial operations.

Etiological or biological Hazards:

Microorganisms that cause severe illness or disease

Electron

Negatively charged particle

Neutron Radiation

Neutron particles are produced by fission reactions. They are typically found in research laboratories and nuclear power plants. Other sources include oil moisture density gauges found at construction sites. These ultra high energy particles have mass but no electrical charge, and they are even more penetrating than gamma rays. Neutron Radiation is difficult to measure in the field. It is usually estimated based on gamma measurements because gamma rays are also produced by fission reactions. Neutron Radiation is hazardous to health because it creates secondary radiation as it passes through human tissue.

Gamma Radiation easily

Passes through the body

Reactivity

The ability of a substance to chemically react with other materials. In industry, reactive materials are unstable materials that react violently when combined with air, water, heat, light or other materials. With any type of material, chemical reactions can create undesirable pressure buildup, temperature increase, or harmful byproducts. By now, you are familiar with the fire tetrahedron or the four components necessary to produce combustion: oxygen, fuel, heat, and a chemical chain reaction. Fire is just one type of chemical reaction( and a reactivity triangle can be used to explain the basic components of many chemical reactions: an oxidizing agent (oxygen), a reducing agent (fuel), and an activation energy source (typically heat) All chemical reactions require activation energy to get started. This is usually supplied by heat, but it can also come from radio waves, radiation, shock waves, or a pressure change. Sometimes very little energy is necessary. For example, when liquid oxygen is spilled on a roadway, a firefighters boot striking the asphalt may initiate an explosive reaction. Also, materials that react when mixed with water (water-reactive materials) will do so at room temperature because the heat of the ambient air is sufficient to start the reaction. The oxidizing agent in the reactivity triangle provides the oxygen necessary for the chemical reaction. Strong oxidizers are materials that give off large quantities of oxygen; they produce a strong reaction by readily accepting electrons from a reducing agent (fuel). The additional oxygen can make a fire burn hotter, faster, and brighter. Petroleum products and other hydrocarbons will ignite spontaneously when they come into contact with a strong oxidizer, such as nitrates, per-chlorates, chlorine, and fluorine. The reducing agent in the reactivity triangle is the fuel source for the reaction. As it combines with oxygen (or loses electrons to the oxidizer) energy is released. Some reducing agents are more volatile than others. Oxidation-reduction reactions can be extremely violent because they release tremendous amounts of energy. Another type of chemical reaction is polymerization, in which a catalyst causes molecules to combine into a chain. If this reaction is uncontrolled, a tremendous amount of energy can be released. Materials that are prone to polymerization include styrene and propylene oxide. Many substances can be catalysts, including heat, light, water, acids and other materials. Inhibitors are materials that slow down or prevent unwanted chemical reactions. They are typically added to polymerizing materials, especially during shipping, when such materials can become extremely unstable. Many inhibitors are time-sensitive, meaning that they become exhausted (lose effectiveness) gradually over time; they may also be consumed more rapidly when overwhelmed by exposure to heat or other catalysts. The most common inhibitor is phenol, also known as carbolic acid.

Flammability:

The behavior of flammable hazards depends on properties such as flash point, auto ignition temperature, and flammable, combustible or explosive range.

Ionizing Radiation changes the structure of what?

The bodies cells/ changes atomic structure and chemical properties, making them unable to properly function.

Specific Gravity:

The density of a substance compared to the density of some standard material, typically water. Most commonly, it is a comparison of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water. For example, if a volume of a material weighs 8 pounds, and an equal volume of water weighs 10 pounds, the material has a specific gravity of 0.8. Water has a specific gravity of 1. Material with a specific gravity of less than 1 will float on water, whereas material with a specific gravity greater than 1 will sink. Most flammable liquids have specific gravitates less than 1.

Solubility:

The percentage of a material that dissolved in water at ambient temperature. Knowing a materials solubility can help to determine appropriate spill cleanup methods and extinguishing agents. The solubility of a substance determines how well it mixes with water. When non-water-soluble liquids, such as the hydrocarbons gasoline and diesel are in the same container with water, the two liquids will remain separate. But when water soluble liquids, such as polar solvents alcohol and methanol are in the same container with water, the two liquids mix easily.

Persistence:

The persistence of a chemical is its ability to remain in the environment. Persistent chemicals remain effective at their point of dispersion for a long time, whereas less persistent chemicals quickly dissipate or break down.

Boiling point

The temperature at which vapor pressure is equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure. In other words, it is the temperature at which a liquid CHANGES TO GAS. The boiling point is usually expressed in degrees Fahrenheit (Celsius) at sea-level air pressure. For mixtures, the initial boiling point or boiling-point range may be given; this is because mixtures often contain materials with different boiling points, making the exact boiling point of the mixture difficult to estimate. Flammable materials with low boiling points generally present special fire hazards, because they give off more vapors into the air. When a liquid in a container begins to boil, the increase in vapor pressure may exceed the vessels ability to relieve excess pressure. The container may catastrophically, creating a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE). As the vapor is released, it expands rapidly and if flammable, ignites, sending flames and container pieces in all directions. BLEVES typically occur WHEN FLAMES CONTACT THE SHELL ABOVE THE LIQUID LEVEL, or there is not enough water to cook the shell tank.

Terrorism

Unlawful force or violence against people or property to coerce against people or property to coerce or intimidate a government or it's citizens, for social or political purposes.

Examples of etiological Hazards are:

Viruses Bacteria Rickettsias Biological toxins

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Weapon or device that can cause death or serious injury to a large number of people; may include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE) type weapons.

Photon

Weightless packet of electromagnetic energy, such as X-rays or visible light.

Proton

positively charged particle

The three states of matter are:

solid, liquid and gas