Hazard represents the potential for a substance to cause adverse effects. Which statement is true?

• A. Not defined
• B. True
• C. Partially true
• D. False

Answer: (B)

Hazard is the inherent capacity of a substance or situation to cause harm if exposure occurs. That means it describes the potential to cause adverse effects, not whether harm will actually happen in a given moment. Because of that, the statement is true: hazard represents the potential to cause adverse effects.

In risk terms, this is why we separate hazard from risk. Risk combines hazard with exposure and susceptibility. A substance can have high hazard but low risk if exposure is minimal, or high risk if exposure is substantial. For example, asbestos has hazardous properties that can cause serious harm, but the actual risk depends on exposure; water typically has low hazard under normal conditions, so its risk is low unless contaminated.

The other options don’t align with the standard understanding: “not defined” would ignore the established definition of hazard; “partially true” would imply a partial or incomplete claim; “false” would misstate the concept that hazard is about potential harm.