True or false: A person may be exposed to large quantities of a hazardous material that do not present a hazard or to small amounts that present a very high hazard.

True or false: A person may be exposed to large quantities of a hazardous material that do not present a hazard or to small amounts that present a very high hazard.

• A. False
• B. Not sure
• C. True
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (C)

Hazard depends on both the material’s inherent toxicity and the details of exposure—how much exposure, how the substance is encountered (inhaled, absorbed through the skin, ingested), and for how long. Some hazardous materials aren’t hazardous unless you reach a certain dose, so even large quantities may pose little risk if exposure is avoided or the material isn’t toxic. Others are extremely toxic even in tiny amounts, especially if exposure is by breathing it in or it’s readily absorbed. Because of this interplay, you can encounter large quantities that don’t present a hazard and small amounts that present a high hazard. In practice, risk is managed by understanding the material’s properties, the exposure scenario, and applying controls to limit exposure.

Hazard depends on both the material’s inherent toxicity and the details of exposure—how much exposure, how the substance is encountered (inhaled, absorbed through the skin, ingested), and for how long. Some hazardous materials aren’t hazardous unless you reach a certain dose, so even large quantities may pose little risk if exposure is avoided or the material isn’t toxic. Others are extremely toxic even in tiny amounts, especially if exposure is by breathing it in or it’s readily absorbed. Because of this interplay, you can encounter large quantities that don’t present a hazard and small amounts that present a high hazard. In practice, risk is managed by understanding the material’s properties, the exposure scenario, and applying controls to limit exposure.