Question

Some symbols are given below. Explain those symbols. Which disasters may occur if those symbols are ignored?

Answer 1

These symbols come under globally harmonised system (GHS) adopted by UN for labelling and classification of chemicals.

(i) This symbol is used for hazardous products which causes less severe health effects. This symbol indicates that the product has acute toxicity, can cause skin and eye irritation, can be hazardous to ozone layer, can affect respiratory organs as well as has narcotic effects. If this symbol is ignored, then health issues as mentioned above can arise as well as can impact the environment.

(ii) These are used for products which have deathly effects on exposure to small amount of it. This symbol indicates that the product has acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity. It would prove fatal if the product with this symbol is swallowed or inhaled.

(iii) This symbol is used to represent that the product is hazardous to aquatic life. If these products are spilled in oceans or seas, then it can have fatal and long lasting effects on aquatic organisms.

(iv) This symbol indicates that the product can cause serious health effects. The product with this symbol can cause respiratory sensitivity, skin toxicity, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, aspiration hazard, specific target organ toxicity after single exposure or repeated exposure.

(v) This symbol is used to indicate that the product is capable of corroding metals and cause irritation to eyes and skin. The product with this symbol can also cause severe burns to skin as well as damage the eye.

(vi) This symbol represents that the product is good oxidising liquids or solids. The product having this symbol can cause fire or explosions or can even intensify fire.

(vii) This symbol represents flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids; pyrophoric liquids, gases and solids, self-reactive substance or mixtures, organic peroxides. The product having this symbol can cause fire on heating.

(viii) This symbol represents that the product is an unstable explosive or it is a self-reactive substance or mixtures. This symbol is also placed on labels of organic peroxides. The product having this symbol can cause explosions on heating.

(ix) This symbol is used to represent the hazard of gases under pressure such as dissolved gas, liquefied gas, compresses gas or refrigerated liquefied gas. The product having this symbol may explode on heating as well as may cause cryogenic burns and injuries.