The effects of hazardous substances on a person can vary between individuals and are wide ranging. The milder effects can be slight eye irritation to chronic lung disease and, on occasion, death.
Some examples are noted below, however, this list is far from exhaustive. The effects will also depend upon each individual. Some substances could have extreme effects on one person and no effect at all on another even if both have experienced the same or similar exposure to that substance.
The examples of effects are:
- skin irritation or dermatitis as a result of skin contact;
- asthma as a result of developing allergy to substances used at work;
- losing consciousness as a result of being overcome by toxic fumes;
- cancer, which may appear long after the exposure to the chemical thatcaused it
- infection from bacteria and other micro-organisms (biological agents).