The main hazard related to organic peroxides are their fire and explosion hazards. Organic peroxides may also be toxic or corrosive. Corrosive organic peroxides can also attack and destroy metals. The peroxy group is chemically unstable. It can easily decompose, giving off heat at a rate that increases as the temperature rises.
Many organic peroxides give off flammable vapours when they decompose.
These vapours can easily catch fire. Most undiluted organic peroxides can catch fire easily and burn very rapidly and intensely. Some organic peroxides are dangerously reactive. They can decompose very rapidly or explosively if they are exposed to only slight heat, friction, mechanical shock or contamination with incompatible materials. Organic peroxides can also be strong oxidizing agents.