INTRODUCTION

Chemicals are an essential component of our daily lives, but some chemicals can severely

damage our health or the environment. There is an increase in health problems that can be

partially explained by the use of chemicals. Some man-made chemicals are found in the most

remote places in the environment but also in our bodies. Chemicals are everywhere. There are

several ways to use chemicals wisely. One can reduce both the probability and consequences of

accidents to negligible levels. Use of chemical substances is always associated with risks.

However, these risks can be minimized with knowledge, proper use, and good practices. In other

words, safety from the chemical substances depends on knowledge, judicious use, safe practices,

appropriate methods of engineering controls, proper use of personal protective equipment, use of

minimum quantities of materials, and substitution of a less hazardous chemicals substance when

possible (Smith 1995).

A chemical is called a health hazard if there is statistically significant evidence based on

at least one study that indicates that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed

employees. When discussing the health effects of chemicals, two terms, toxicity and hazard, are

often used. Toxicity is the ability of a chemical substance to produce injury once it reaches a

susceptible site in or on the body. Hazard is the probability that a substance will produce injury

under the conditions / manner of use. Risk of injury is the probability that a chemical will cause

harm. With proper handling, even highly toxic chemicals can be used safely (Hawley 2007).
 Safety committees or teams can be a valuable asset and serve as an educational resource.

All students should have access to information, know about the hazards of the substances they

handle, and be prepared to respond in emergencies. For student conducting research, thorough

risk assessments must be carried out to evaluate potential hazards associated with planned

experiments. In the event of an accident, formal review of the incident and appropriate follow-up

actions must occur. A safe environment must be provided in all classrooms and laboratories.

Once it recognized that the ultimate responsibility for safety lies within an institution, the

management and administration should clearly establish the procedures and policies to achieve

chemical safety. An institution’s chemical hygiene/laboratory safety plan should include standard

safety rules and procedures, descriptions of safety committees, and emergency procedures. An

emergency reporting system that is easily accessible at all times to persons working in

laboratories must be maintained. Regular inspections should be performed, and problems must

be addressed by management. Laboratory-specific safety rules, such as eye protection, should be

posted and rigorously enforced. Appropriate facilities for safely handling and storing chemicals

must be available. Laboratory operations, safety-related equipment, and the disposal of

unwanted, hazardous and waste materials must be compliance with governmental regulations

(Dikshith 2009).

Chemical poisoning is a condition in which the body is exposed to a potentially harmful

chemical in an amount that causes symptoms, disease and/or damage to cells, organs and/or body

systems. Chemical poisoning can be intentional or unintentional. Chemical poisoning is common

and the second leading cause of injury and death. Prolonged periods of exposure to meals are

known to cause poisoning. Toxic heavy metals may lead to a decline in the mental, cognitive,
and physical health of the individual. The degree to which a system, organ, tissue, or cell is

affected by a heavy metal toxin depends on the toxin itself and the individual’s degree of

exposure to the toxin. The toxicity, health effects, and related symptoms of poisoning caused by

different metals and metal compounds in humans is modulated by many factors. Pesticide

poisoning has become common among farm workers, pesticide applicators, mixers, loaders, and

handlers. This has been traced to the users’ ignorance, carelessness, and lack of elementary

knowledge about taking the proper precautions before handling toxic chemicals. The symptoms

of pesticide poisoning are not common to all the products, but vary with each product and its

formulation (Asfahl 1984).

Toxicology is the branch of science concerned with understanding the gross and intrinsic

capabilities of a chemical substance on biological systems, that is on plants, animals, and

humans. Toxicology is a multidisciplinary science and closely interrelated with many other

branches of science. Chemical substances are required for health, progress, and societal

development. In the very close linkage with an array of chemical substances and societal

development, human health cannot be ignored. Therefore, thinkers of the past and present around

the world framed regulations about the manners and method of use of chemical substances.

There are no safe chemical substances and all are toxic in one way or the other. No chemical

substance is absolutely safe. In fact, the safety of a chemical substance depends upon the

concentration and manner of exposure and use. This is important and should be very well

understood and remembered by all students, industrial workers, and household users who handle,

store, transport, and dispose of different chemical substances (Dikshith 2009).

Chemicals are frequently used in our daily life and at work. Quite a number of the chemicals are

dangerous substances by nature, and some are hazardous when heated, ground or mixed with

other chemicals. Sometimes, even pouring chemicals from one container to another may be

hazardous. Without adequate knowledge of the hazards or in the absence of appropriate

precautionary measures, accidents may occur leading to casualties. Numerous hazards exist

when chemicals are in use. The hazards vary with the reactions involved. Especially in the cases

of chemicals in contact with air and mixing of chemicals, there are lots of hazards with various

causes that cannot be individually listed out (Dikshith 2009). To attain the safe use of chemicals,

we should know the chemical safety guidelines, the symptoms of exposure to chemicals and its

toxicity.