Final answer:
Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects include toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, corrosive poisons found in household products, and environmental contaminants like pesticides. Proper handling and storage are crucial to prevent exposure and ensure safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Materials that cause immediate and serious toxic effects include a wide range of chemical agents that can threaten human health. Some of the most dangerous include toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium which are often by-products of industrial processes and can accumulate in the food chain leading to high concentrations in organisms at higher trophic levels, such as in swordfish, thereby posing a risk of poisoning when consumed by humans.
Corrosive poisons, which can be found in many household products, are also known for causing immediate harm upon ingestion or skin contact. Examples include strong acids and bases as well as heavy metal salts.
In addition to these, environmental contaminants like pesticides and industrial by-products such as dioxins, and substances like carbon monoxide and cyanide, which act as metabolic poisons, can lead to severe poisoning affecting various organs and systems, including the nervous and respiratory systems.
It is vital to recognize the immediate harmful effects of these toxic substances to prevent exposure and ensure safety. Proper storage, handling, and disposal of such materials are important steps in mitigating the risk of poisoning.