Class 6.1: Toxic Substances

General Information:

Class 6.1 (Toxic Substances) are chemicals that can seriously injure or kill a human if they get into the body. This can happen through swallowing, breathing in fumes or even soaking through the skin. Some act instantly as fast-moving poisons, while others cause long-term damage to organs like the liver or kidneys over time. You should always wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks when handling them to avoid any accidental contact.

Main Hazards:

• May cause death or serious harm to health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact.
• May be corrosive to skin and eyes.
• May emit toxic gases during combustion.

Examples:

• Cyanide - This is a fast-acting poison used in gold mining to extract metal from ore, manufacturing paper, textiles, plastics, pesticides and in some industrial plating processes, such as electroplating for plating noble metals like gold, silver and copper. In New Zealand, Cyanide is commonly used for possum contol and has been used here for decades. Cyanide works by "suffocating" the body's cells from the inside, preventing the body from using oxygen. A sign of Cyanide poisoning is "cherry red" skin, as the body still oxygenates but the tissue's cannot use that oxygen.
• Pesticides & Herbicides (Concentrated) - Many high-strength chemicals used by farmers to control insects or weeds fall into Class 6.1 Toxic Substances. Some of these pesticides and herbicides are heavily restricted or banned in New Zealand due to the significant risks they pose to human health and the environment. Paraquat is an example of a highly toxic herbicide. While it is effective at protecting crops, it's extremely poisonous and can be absorbed through the skin or lungs. Because of its high toxicity, it requires specialised personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict handling controls, and its use in New Zealand is tightly regulated.