Any solid, liquid or gas which can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. The term "hazardous material" is used in this context almost exclusively in the United States; the equivalent term in the rest of the English-speaking world is "dangerous goods." Hazardous material may be radioactive, flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, biohazardous, an oxidizer, an asphyxiant, an allergen, or may have other characteristics that make it hazardous in specific circumstances. Mitigating the risks associated with hazardous materials may require the application of safety precautions during their transport, use, storage and disposal. Most countries regulate hazardous materials by law, and they are subject to several international treaties.