26 February 2025

Which are hazardous substances or mixtures?

Every day we come across various chemical substances that can pose a risk to humans, animals or the environment. Some of them require special precautions during transport, storage and use. Which substances and mixtures are considered hazardous and what regulations govern them?

What are hazardous substances and mixtures?

According to the CLP Regulation (EC No. 1272/2008), hazardous substances and mixtures are chemicals that meet the classification criteria for at least one hazard category, such as physicochemical hazards, human health hazards and environmental hazards.

A hazardous substance is a single chemical compound or element that exhibits properties that can cause harm.

A hazardous mixture is a combination of two or more substances in which at least one substance exhibits hazardous properties.

Hazardous substances and mixtures can be flammable, toxic, corrosive, radioactive or explosive, which means that they require appropriate labelling and precautions.

Hazardous substances and mixtures are chemicals that may pose a risk to health, safety or the environment. Depending on their properties, they may be flammable, toxic, corrosive, radioactive or explosive.

Legal basis
Regulations on hazardous substances and mixtures are strictly regulated at both international and national levels. The most important legal acts include:

Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP) – classification and labelling of chemical substances.
REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 – regulations on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
ADR Agreement – regulations on the transport of hazardous substances by land.
IMDG Code – regulations on the transport of such substances by sea.
RID Regulations – regulations on rail transport.

Classification of hazardous substances and mixtures
Hazardous substances and mixtures are classified according to the types of hazards specified in the CLP Regulation (EC No. 1272/2008). There are three main groups of hazards:

Physicochemical hazards – these include flammable, explosive, oxidizing, corrosive to metals, etc.
Health hazards – these include toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive to skin, sensitizing, etc.
Environmental hazards – these include hazardous substances for aquatic organisms and ecosystems.

How to recognize hazardous substances and mixtures?

Hazardous substances and mixtures are marked with special warning symbols in accordance with the CLP and transport regulations. The labels may include:

GHS pictograms (red diamonds with black symbols),
ADR labels (for road transport),
RID and IMDG markings (for rail and sea transport).

Can hazardous substances and mixtures be purchased and transported?
Yes, but under certain conditions. The sale and transport of some substances are restricted or require permits. Examples:

Varnishes, solvents - available, but safety recommendations must be followed.
Lithium batteries - can be transported, but under certain conditions.
Fireworks - allowed for sale, but their transport requires special regulations.

Are hazardous substances/mixtures the same as dangerous goods?

No, although these terms are often confused, they do not mean the same thing.

Hazardous substances and mixtures is a term used mainly in the context of the classification of chemicals according to the CLP regulation, which determines their impact on health, safety and the environment.

On the other hand, dangerous goods is a term used in transport regulations (e.g. ADR, IMDG, RID) and refers to materials that may pose a risk during transport.

Not every hazardous substance is automatically a dangerous good – an example would be corrosive sulfuric acid, which is a dangerous substance, but its transport in small quantities may not be subject to ADR regulations. In turn, lithium batteries, although they are not classified as a dangerous substance in themselves, are considered dangerous goods in transport.

Summary
Hazardous substances and mixtures are part of our everyday lives, but they require appropriate treatment. Thanks to international and national regulations, their use and transport are safer. It is always worth paying attention to the markings on the packaging and following the manufacturer's recommendations.

If you need support in the classification, labelling or transport of dangerous substances, mixtures and goods, contact me! I help companies to correctly apply the regulations, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations. Together we will find the best solutions for your company!

Image by Jan Helebrant from Pixabay

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