Final answer:
Dangerous goods are those that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment, and include hazardous waste in various forms. Hazardous waste requires special handling to prevent public health and environmental dangers, with proper waste management being essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dangerous goods are defined as articles or substances capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. These goods include hazardous waste, which represents a substantial threat to public health and the environment. Hazardous waste comes in various physical states, including gaseous, liquids, and solids, and requires specific treatments to mitigate its dangers.
Hazardous materials can exhibit properties such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity, making them characteristic hazardous wastes. The proper handling of these materials, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is crucial for preventing harm when they are recycled, treated, stored, and disposed of. Contaminants can adversely affect communities, and the exposure to these hazardous substances, whether from residential, commercial, or industrial sources, can occur in a variety of forms such as solids, liquids, dusts, vapors, gases, fibers, mists, and fumes.