What is a substance that poses a threat to human health or to the environment?

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Hazardous materials are substances that can cause harm to people or the environment, and this term is the broad category used in safety programs to cover a wide range of risks. It includes not just toxicity but also other hazards like flammability, corrosivity, reactivity, radioactivity, and biological or environmental dangers. Using the label hazardous materials helps ensure proper handling, labeling, storage, personal protective equipment, and emergency response procedures, since any material that could pose a health or environmental risk falls under this umbrella.

Toxic substances focus mainly on health effects from exposure, not necessarily environmental impact. Pollutants describe contamination of air, water, or soil and don’t always imply a direct health risk to people in the immediate handling sense. Corrosive chemicals are a specific hazard type that can burn or corrode on contact, but not all hazardous materials are corrosive.