Any material which is dangerous to life, health or property due to its chemical nature or properties. Even normal household materials can be Hazardous Materials when improperly used or mixed with other incompatible materials.

Hazardous Materials. Any substance or material in a quantity or form which may be harmful or injurious to humans, domestic animals, wildlife, economic crops, or property when released into the environment. The four traditional classes are: chemical, biological, radiological, explosive.

US term for hazardous material

The term HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) is used extensively in the U.S. National ITS Architecture, while the Canadian practice is to use the term “ Dangerous Goods”. In order to facilitate the adaptation of the U.S. National ITS Architecture, the two terms are considered synomonous in the Canadian ITS Architecture and the term HAZMAT is retained in numerous definitions.