Civil Toxic Hazards: HAZMAT

Parallel to the definitions of CBW agents, there is a classification of hazardous materials used in everyday industrial life. These are usually released by accident. Many of these are as toxic as chemical warfare agents. Such toxic

TABLE 64-1 -- The United Nations hazardous materials (HAZMAT) classification system

HAZMAT Class	Subclass	Hazard Type
1		Explosives
	1.1–1.5	Mass explosive hazard
		Very sensitive substances
2	2.1	Flammable gases
	2.2	Nonflammable nontoxic gases
	2.3	Toxic gases
3		Flammable liquids
4	4.1	Flammable solids
	4.2	Spontaneous combustion
	4.3	Dangerous substances when wet
5	5.1	Oxidizing substances other than organic peroxides
	5.2	Organic peroxide
6	6.1	Poisons
	6.2	Infectious substances
7		Radioactive substances
8		Corrosive substances
9		Other dangerous substances

substances are classified as hazardous materials (HAZMATs) and are covered by a United Nations' convention controlling the use and transportation of such materials.^{[19] [20]} The HAZMAT classification for toxic substances defines nine classes of hazard. These substances are identified during production and transportation by a class number and a hazard identification number ( Table 64-1 ). Vehicles carrying compounds controlled by the HAZMAT classification system must display a sign, known as a Kemmler plate, which carries this essential information for the use of emergency responders. The Kemmler plates vary internationally ( Fig. 64-2 ).

A hazardous material is defined as an agent that causes mass injury and death if released from a confined state. The civil equivalent of biological warfare agent release is natural infection expressed as an epidemic. Given the current concern about the use of CBW agents in the civil environment by terrorists and the omnipresent hazard faced by populations from accidental chemical release, military and civil toxic releases and infections may be regarded as variations on the same theme.

Figure 64-2 Kemmler plates.