Which of the following is a characteristic of a hazardous material?

A characteristic of a hazardous material is that it can cause harm to health or the environment. This definition is fundamental to understanding what constitutes a hazardous material. Hazardous materials possess intrinsic properties that can lead to adverse effects on living organisms or the ecosystem, including toxicity, reactivity, corrosiveness, and flammability.

While some hazardous materials may not be visible to the naked eye, others can be. Thus, the idea that they are always visible does not accurately define them. Additionally, hazardous materials are not exclusive to industrial settings; they can also be found in households, laboratories, and natural environments. Finally, while specialized equipment may be necessary for the transport of certain hazardous materials, this is not a universal characteristic since many can be handled with standard equipment depending on their classification and quantity. Therefore, the essence of what makes a material hazardous centers on its potential to cause harm, which is reflected in the correct answer.