ABSTRACT
The effects that hazardous materials have on the body varies from substance to substance. It is possible to gain a clearer perspective of the hazards posed by chemicals by identifying a few basic toxicological concepts. These concepts can be applied in the field to identify the nature and type of contaminants that are most likely to be found in a particular space. This chapter employs a 2-step approach to develop this skill. First, it explains a strategy that one can use to determine what materials may be present in a space. Second, it explains some basic toxicological principles that one can apply when trying to evaluate airborne chemical hazards. Given the diversity of chemicals in the industrial environment, it is essential that anyone supervising a confined space entry program have a basic knowledge of toxicological principles. The dose-response relationship begins with the assumption that there is some small dose, below which, no adverse effects will occur.
