Sometimes, you know immediately if a chemical is harming you. It burns the skin or causes breathing problems, for example. However, it could also take years to know that a chemical has harmed you. Various health effects can occur after exposure. Short-term, or immediate, effects of chemical exposure are called “acute” while long-term effects are called “chronic”.  

Some chemicals may have both effects. For example, if a concentrated dose of a chemical is inhaled and dizziness occurs, this is an acute reaction. If  a small amount of a chemical is inhaled but symptoms occur much later, this is a long-term or chronic reaction.

The acute and long-term effects of chemicals is available on the Safety Data Sheet for each chemical  used. To ensure safety and health, be sure to review labels and SDS information before using any chemical.