Hazardous Substances
A hazardous substance is any solid, liquid, chemical or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.
Using hazardous substances can put your own and other people's health at risk.
What to look for
Toi Te Ora’s health protection officers maintain a 24/7 incident and emergency response service for hazardous substance incidents.
Toi Te Ora’s health protection officers maintain a 24/7 incident and emergency response service for hazardous substance incidents.
These incidents may include spills, spray drift, fires or road accidents involving hazardous substances that may pose a risk to public health. Our officers follow up complaints, identify and control the risk to people and the environment.
More information about hazardous substances and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Contact us to make a complaint about a hazardous substance affecting public health.
Health risks
Cyanide and Health
Cyanide is a highly toxic substance and the major risk to human health is associated with accidental or suicidal ingestion of paste or pellets. Health protection officers investigate all incidents involving the theft, reckless misuse, unsafe storage and criminal use of cyanide.
Questions and Answers about Cyanide
1080
The pesticide 1080 is New Zealand’s main weapon against possums that spread bovine tuberculosis (TB) and eat native wildlife and forests. One of 1080's main advantages is that it is biodegradable and therefore doesn't stay in the soil or waterways.
To use 1080 in a water catchment area, from which water is drawn for human consumption, you have to get a permit from Toi Te Ora Public Health Service.
Agri-chemical spray drift
More information about spray drift
Disposing of hazardous substances
Unsafe disposal of hazardous substances can pose a threat to public health. Please contact your local council if you would like information on how to dispose of a hazardous substance in your area.
Check out more resources below
- Lead and Lead Poisoning
- Pamphlet - Repainting Lead Based Paint
- Guidelines for the Management of Lead Based Paint
- All about asbestos
- Removing asbestos from the home
- Pamphlet - Poisons around the home
- Child resistant packaging
- Environment Waikato – Disposing of Hazardous Substances
- Environment Bay of Plenty – Paint and Paint Product Disposal
Contact us if you would like more information or if you would like to make a complaint involving a hazardous substance.
