Do You Agree Or Disagree with the Following Statements?

Activity 4: Hazardous Materials at Home

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? ______1) It is possible to eliminate health and environmental hazards when working with household products. ______2) Consult a local waste-collection center before washing a household product down the drain. ______3) If you can buy it, it is safe to use and dispose of down the drain or in the garbage. ______4) Hazardous substances should not be allowed in household products.

Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste:

For the following table, put a check mark in the box that you think correctly identifies the action that you should take to dispose of each of the following products. In some cases, two boxes could be checked. After reading activity 4 and class discussion, we will go over the table. Put a star in the box that is recommended by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Type of Waste Pour down drain Put in trash (not Take to hazardous Recycle at authorized down drain) waste collection sites point Kitchen Aerosol cans (empty) Bug sprays Drain cleaners Floor care products Furniture polish Window cleaner Oven cleaner (with lye base) Bathroom Medicine Nail polish (solidified) Toilet bowl cleaner Tub and tile cleaners Garage Antifreeze Batteries (household) Batteries (car) Lighter fluid Motor oil Swimming pool acid Windshield washer solution Glue (solvent based) Glue (water based) Paint (latex) Paint (oil based) Paint Thinner Varnish

= prediction = EPA recommendations What is Hazardous at Your Home? Examine various rooms in your home or apartment for common materials that may be hazardous. Be creative in your search. Look for signal words that tell about a substance’s hazards. Below are some signal words listed from greatest hazard to least:

POISON = highly toxic DANGER = extremely flammable, corrosive, or highly toxic WARNING = moderate hazard CAUTION = mild/moderate hazard

Substances to investigate include cleaners, auto fluids, laundry products, garden products, and painting supplies. Be sure to follow appropriate safety procedures for handling hazardous substances. You should not open any containers, especially ones that you are not sure what is inside. Even though you should not have any hazardous materials on your hands as they should be contained inside something, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly when finished.

Product Use(s) of Physical state Hazardous Hazard (s) from using product (solid, liquid, or ingredients (often product gas) listed as “active ingredients”

1) Was each product labeled clearly enough that you knew its hazard(s) easily? Explain.

2) List at least three actions you or your family can take to reduce exposure to hazardous materials at home?