Hazardous Substance

"Hazmat" redirects here. For the Marvel Comics/Electronic Arts character, see Hazmat (comics). For the protective clothing, see Hazmat suit. A dangerous good is any solid, liquid, or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. An equivalent term, used almost exclusively in the United States, is hazardous material (hazmat). Dangerous goods may be radioactive, flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, biohazardous, an oxidizer, an asphyxiant, a pathogen, an allergen, or may have other characteristics that render it hazardous in specific circumstances.
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A material, and its mixtures or solutions, that is identified in the appendix to 49 CFR 172.101, List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities, of this title when offered for transportation in one package, or in one transport vehicle if not packaged, and when the quantity of the material therein equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ). This definition does not apply to petroleum products that are lubricants or fuels, or to mixtures or solutions of hazardous substances if in a concentration less than that shown in the table in 49 CFR 171.8 of this title, based on the RQ specified for the materials listed in the appendix to 49 CFR 172.101. (49CFR390)

A material, and its mixtures or solutions, that 1) Is identified in the appendix to 49 CFR 172.101; 2) Is in a quantity, in one package, which equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) listed in the Appendix A to 49 CFR 172.101; and 3) When in a mixture or solution which, for radionuclides, conforms to paragraph 6 of Appendix A, or, for other than radionuclides, is in a concentration by weight which equals or exceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the Table appearing in 49 CFR 171.8. This definition does not apply to petroleum products that are lubricants or fuels. (49CFR171)

1. Any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the environment. Typical hazardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically reactive. 2. Any substance designated by EPA to be reported if a designated quantity of the substance is spilled in the waters of the United States or is otherwise released into the environment.