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Home, Health New Zealand.
Te Whatu Ora
. Logo.
Corporate information
Health services and programmes
For health professionals
For health providers
For New Zealanders
Phishing alerts
Cyber security training
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Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances are common in homes, workplaces, and public areas. Find out more about the various substances and how they affect health.
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Agricultural compounds and pesticides
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Agricultural compounds are used for many purposes, including protecting native plants and wildlife and minimising health risks from pests.
Arsenic
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Arsenic is a substance that is found naturally in rock. It has been used as an insecticide, and some situations arsenic harms people’s health.
Asbestos
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Learn about identifying asbestos-containing material in your home, the health risks of asbestos and what you can do about asbestos.
Consumer products
Some common manufactured products may be or may contain hazardous substances.
Contaminated soil
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Soil contamination results where hazardous substances are either spilled on or buried in the soil, or migrate from a spill that occurred elsewhere.
Fire and smoke
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Fires can expose people to a range of hazardous substances.
Hazardous substances and products
Hazardous substances are common in homes, workplaces, and public areas. Find out more about how we protect public health from such substances.
Lead
Lead is a metal that can be found in the environment, around the home or at workplaces. If untreated, lead poisoning can be serious.
Mercury
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Mercury vaporises at room temperature and breathing in this vapour can be harmful to your health.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Persistent Organic Pollutants are compounds that do not break down easily, and stay in the environment.
Publications
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We publish a range of information on hazardous substances, from reports and evaluations to guidance for public health officers.
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