What is a key characteristic of all hazardous materials?

A key characteristic of all hazardous materials is that they can cause harm to health, safety, or the environment. This definition encompasses a wide range of substances that, under certain conditions or in specific amounts, pose risks to human health, safety, or ecological systems. Hazardous materials can be solids, liquids, or gases, and their potential to inflict damage is what categorizes them as hazardous, regardless of their physical state or abundance in nature.

For instance, materials like certain chemicals, biological samples, or radioactive substances are acknowledged as hazardous due to their toxic, corrosive, or explosive properties. Understanding this characteristic is essential for proper handling, storage, and transportation to mitigate risks and ensure safety for people and the environment.