EU CBRN CoE Project 61

ISEM
Sound Management of Chemicals
and their Associated Wastes
INSTITUTE
in Southeast Asia
Funded by the European Union SEACHEM
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

Human and environmental effects

of mismanaged chemicals
and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

This Project is implemented by

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals
and their Associated Wastes
in Southeast Asia
SEACHEM ISEM
INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

Chemicals are used in every sphere of life and their production increased rapidly
in recent years. Growing knowledge of the impact of chemicals on humans and the
environment has highlighted the need for their careful management.

Chemicals are used in:

• Industry and agriculture,
• Medical facilities,
• Science and research institutions,
• Hazardous waste disposal facilities
• Household.

Chemicals are solid, liquid, or gaseous substances that produces an effect on a living
organism by acting on the body tissue, or in an environment by interacting with air,
water, and/or soil. If they are improperly managed, they can cause hazards to human
health or the environment.

Hazardous chemical waste includes:

• old, surplus and unusable chemicals,
• unlabeled and unguarded chemicals,
• chemicals in damaged containers (drums, plastic containers, etc.)
• residues of chemicals in different containers,
• unused chemical solutions,
• various contaminated materials used in handling chemicals (gloves, rags, etc.)

Hazardous nature of chemicals and their associated wastes

• Routes of human exposure: Absorption (skin and eyes), Inhalation, Ingestion
and Injection,
• Some chemicals are difficult to detect (colourless liquid, odourless gas, etc.),
• Ability to harm or to destroy living tissue or disrupt vital processes leading to
incapatitation, illness or death,
• Contamination of the environment.

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

ROUTES OF EXPOSURES

Topical/
Absorption
(skin and eyes)

Inhalation

Ingestion
Injection

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

Environmental effects caused by chemicals:

During the production process, use or disposal of chemicals, the contamination of the
air, water and soil can occur, which can have negative impacts on the environment.
The type of the chemical, the amount or the way the chemicals are released, can
determine the environmental impact. When chemicals are released, the effects on
the environment can be visible and immediate or some chemicals can cause long
term effects, such as entering into the food chain or by polluting the air.

Potential health effects to human body caused by chemical

exposure:

1. The nervous system: inability to move, loss of feeling, confusion, and decreased
speech, sight, memory, muscle strength, or coordination,
2. The respiratory system: asbestosis, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, fi brosis,
emphysema, and decreased oxygen supply in blood,
3. The skin: irritation, rash, redness or discoloration, dermatitis, and health effect
related to other systems and organs due to contamination through the skin,
4. The cardiovascular system: heart failure and the inability of blood to carry the
necessary oxygen to the body,
5. The hepatic system: liver damage, tumors, accumulation of fat (steatosis), and
death of liver cells,
6. The immune system: allergy, immune system slow down or failure.

Safety precautions in case of chemical incident:

• Do not touch and do not manipulate the chemical (do not open containers, etc.),
• Get away from the chemical and avoid access to other people,
• If you cannot get away from the chemical consider using respiratory protection
(breathing through a respirator or clean cloth, etc.),
• Minimize time near chemical,
• Do not handle fire in the vicinity of the chemical,
• Contact the appropriate emergency services.

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

to
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As soon as po
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Prevent peop
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dangerous ch ing
emical site

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 Human and environmental effects of mismanaged
chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

Chemical Hazard Classification:

The Global Harmonization System (GHS) aims to harmonize the classification and
labeling systems for all sectors involved in the life cycle of a chemical (production,
storage, transport, workplace use, consumer use and presence in the environment).
The GHS classification consists of 9 classes such as Explosives, Toxic, Flammable,
etc (See picture GHS Hazard Pictograms). Based on the hazard severity, each class
is divided into the categories, where category 1 or A always designates the highest
hazard within that class.

WORLDWIDE HAZARD PICTOGRAMS

EMERGENCY CALL NUMBERS

POLICE: 191
AMBULANCE: 1669
FIRE FIGHTERS: 199
GENERAL EMERGENCY NUMBER: 191

EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia - SEACHEM
 EU CBRN CoE Project 61

Sound Management of Chemicals

and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia
SEACHEM

www.cbrn-project61.com

Human and environmental effects of mismanaged

chemicals and their associated wastes

GENERAL PUBLIC

ISEM
INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

ISEMI graphic art work