Exposure to a toxic substance such as gasoline can affect your health. Since drinking gasoline can cause burns, vomiting, diarrhea and, in very large amounts, drowsiness or death, it is toxic. Since gasoline can burn and its vapors can explode, gasoline is also hazardous. A chemical can be toxic, or hazardous, or both. Since chemicals can be toxic, it is important to understand how they can affect health.
Some substances are more toxic than others.
The toxicity of a substance is described by the types of effects it causes and its potency. Different chemicals cause different effects. For example, Chemical A may cause vomiting, but not cancer. Chemical B may have no noticeable effects during exposure, but may cause cancer years later. A more potent chemical is more toxic.