What defines a hazardous material?

A hazardous material is defined as any substance that poses a risk to health, safety, or property. This definition encompasses a wide range of materials, including chemicals, gases, and biological agents, that can cause harm to people or the environment if not handled properly. The criteria for a material to be considered hazardous typically revolve around its physical, chemical, and toxicological properties, including the potential for combustion, reactivity, corrosiveness, or exposure risk.

When looking at the other options, being easily transportable does not inherently indicate whether a substance is hazardous; many non-hazardous materials can also be easily moved. Similarly, the ability to recycle a material does not relate to its potential dangers. A non-toxic substance, by definition, would not pose risks to health and safety, which disqualifies it from being categorized as hazardous. Therefore, the ability of a material to present risks highlights its classification as hazardous, demonstrating the importance of assessing the specific characteristics that determine its danger.