| Class | Effect |
| Irritant: |
Causes inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes (skin, eyes, nose, or respiratory system).
|
| Corrosive: |
A material that can destroy human tissue. Includes both acids and bases and may be a solid liquid or gas. Most common toxic material encountered in the laboratory.
|
| Asphyxiant: |
A material that deprives tissue of oxygen and causes suffocation by displacing oxygen or interfering chemically with oxygen absorption, transport or utilization.
|
| Anesthetic: |
Depresses the central nervous system Example: alcohols, halogenated hydrocarbons
|
| Hepatotoxin: |
causes liver damage. Example: carbon tetrachloride
|
| Nephrotoxin: |
causes kidney damage. Example: chloroform, mercury, dimethyl sulfate
|
| Neurotoxin: |
affects the nervous system. Example:mercury, lead, carbon disulfide
|
| Hematopoietic toxin: |
affects the cellular components of blood or its ability to function Example: benzene, xylene, CO, cyanides
|
| Pulmonary toxin: |
irritates or damages the lungs. Example: asbestos, silica ozone. chromium
|
| Reproductive toxins: |
causes impotence or sterility in men and women. Example: lead, dibromodichloropropane
|
| Carcinogen: |
A material which can cause cancer. Example: asbestos, Bis-chloromethyl ether, benzene, acrylonitrile
|
| Mutagen: |
Anything which causes a change in the genetic material of a living cell. Many mutagens are also carcinogens.
|
| Teratogen: |
A material which interferes with the developing embryo when a pregnant female is exposed to that substance. Example: lead, thalidomide
|
