The chemical make-up of a product determines if it is hazardous. The easiest way to determine if something is hazardous is to read the label. The following words identify hazardous materials.

Poison and Danger

Poison indicates the highest hazard level. Poison means that a product is highly toxic and can cause injury or death if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Danger

Danger means that a product is either highly toxic, flammable or corrosive. If the word "danger" appears on cleaners, polishes, paint strippers or pesticides, the product could be poisonous and cause serious damage to the skin or eyes or cause a fire.

Warning and Caution

This indicates that a product is toxic, corrosive, reactive or flammable.

Toxic and Poisonous

Toxic and poisonous materials can cause long-term illnesses (such as cancer). Pesticides, paint thinners, many auto products and some cleaners are toxic. The following words indicate that the product is toxic and poisonous.

• Harmful or fatal if swallowed
• Use only in a well-ventilated area. This means product fumes are toxic.

Flammable

Paint, thinners and other solvents and auto products are the most flammable home products. Warning words are:

• Do not use near heat or flame
• Combustible
• Do not smoke while using this product

Corrosive

Corrosive items can eat through materials (acid, for example). Oven cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and auto batteries are common corrosive products. The following words appear on the product label of corrosive products.

• Causes severe burns on contact.
• Can burn eyes, skin and throat.

Reactive

Reactive materials can ignite spontaneously or create poisonous vapors when mixed with other products; therefore, NEVER mix household products. Reactive materials also can explode when exposed to heat, air, water or shock. Fortunately, there are few consumer products on the market that are explosive (except for fireworks). Some older explosive products still might be stored in homes