Table of contentsBiological hazardTeratogenicCarcinogenicMutagenicChemical hazardPhysical hazardBiological hazardA biological hazard is a danger that can harm a human being or a living organism. These dangers can vary: micro-organisms, viruses or toxins. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Teratogen A teratogen is anything that can cause a problem with an embryo. It can also lead to complete termination of the pregnancy. Alcohol is a known teratogen. This can cause abnormalities in the child and stop their growth. It can also lead to mental problems and delay. Drugs like cocaine or marijuana are another teratogen. These medications can cause brain problems and even cause a gap in your skull/brain or make the child dependent without trying the medication. A final example would be pregnant women who smoke. Nicotine is very deadly during pregnancy as it can lead to breathing problems and fetal death due to suffocation. It can also directly lead to low birth weight and health problems in the future. Carcinogen A carcinogen is a factor that will eventually cause cancer. An example is pesticides against insects which can cause lymphoma or leukemia with very long exposure. Another example is the air filled with many carcinogens that you breathe daily. A final example of a carcinogen is cigarettes, as they contain many chemicals such as: methane, methanol, hexamine, stearic acid, arsenic and many others. All of these products are dangerous because they are all chemicals that are harmful to human health. All of this can lead to cancer, especially lung cancer. Mutagen A mutagen is anything that will cause a mutation. A huge problem is solar UV radiation; it's with us when we go out when the sun shines. The problem with UV is that it mainly damages the skin and the cells it contains. It can also cause eye problems and the cornea will be burned, resulting in cataracts, which are most commonly seen in older people. Another mutagen is exposure to too much X-rays, as this will cause your cells to mutate and cause cancer. If you're exposed for too long this will happen, so it's best not to have a lot over any given period of time. One last thing is if you are exposed to a large amount of radiation. This could be from where you work or where you travel. Nuclear power plant workers should be careful not to overwork in the plant and should wear additional protective clothing so that they are not heavily exposed. Bosses make sure to check each worker to see how much they have been exposed to, because the more you have been exposed, the more dangerous it is to your health. Chemical risk A chemical risk is a danger that can be caused by chemicals present in the environment. air and on workplace surfaces. This can lead to short or long term health problems. Some chemicals can be cleaning agents, disinfectants, compressed gases and medications. The effects may be breathing difficulties or skin irritation, flammable, explosive products or affect the environment. A worker in the workplace may be affected by inhaling hazardous vapors, chemicals on the skin or eyes, ingesting food containing a chemical.