08-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey County │ Annex G: Hazardous Materials 8 • Destruction of natural and cultural resources, with forest and fish habitats being most easily damaged or temporarily destroyed 3.2.2 HEALTH RISKS POSED BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Hazardous materials vary greatly in the types of health risks they pose to humans. Emergency responders contend with the following potential health risks from hazardous materials: thermal, radiological, asphyxiation, chemical, etiological, or mechanical (TRACEM). The following sections briefly discuss each type of health risk. • Thermal harm. Thermal harm results from exposure to temperature extremes. Thermal injuries can be external (from contacting or being in close proximity to a fire or other heat source) or internal (from inhaling fumes or heated air). Thermal injuries can also include frostbite from contact with low-temperature hazardous materials. • Radiological harm. Radiological harm, perhaps the most misunderstood type of harm in the TRACEM model, results from exposure to radioactive materials. The most harmful types of radiation cannot be seen, felt, or smelled. Special detection devices are required to monitor and measure levels of radiation, and these devices are becoming more available to emergency responders. Different types of radiation have different energy levels, and not all types are dangerous. For example, non-ionizing radiation (from sources such as fluorescent lights, radio waves, and microwaves) has enough energy to move atoms but not enough to alter them chemically. The radiation that poses a threat to humans is ionizing radiation, which can remove electrons from atoms and cause damage to living cells and DNA. Examples of ionizing radiation sources include medical isotopes used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, X-rays for imaging (medical and industrial), and specific survey equipment. • Asphyxiation. Asphyxiation results from exposure to materials that reduce oxygen to levels that may cause suffocation. Asphyxiation typically occurs in confined spaces or with extremely concentrated forms of simple asphyxiants. Asphyxiants displace so much oxygen from the ambient atmosphere that the lungs cannot supply enough to fully oxygenate the tissues, and the victim slowly suffocates. Many asphyxiants (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane) are odorless and tasteless (unless odorants are added), so one could become unconscious without realizing an asphyxiant gas is present. • Chemical harm. Chemical harm results from exposure to chemicals, including poisons and corrosives. Injuries and illnesses vary by material. Chemical agents are classified according to the potential severity of their effects. More information on various chemicals and their effects is listed is on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM) website, on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that should come with each chemical, in the Emergency Response Guide (ERG), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. • Etiological (biological) harm. Etiological (or biological) harm results from exposure to biological materials that include bacteria, viruses, and biological toxins. Symptoms of etiological harm are often delayed because the pathogens often require time to multiply sufficiently to cause illness in the person carrying the pathogen.