A320
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 117.83; Flight Crew Total 1861.30; Flight Crew Type 1076.35
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation
General Maintenance Action; General Work Refused
Human Factors; Procedure
At gate; pre-departure; was given dangerous good summary showing 'miscellaneous hazmat' loaded on aircraft. I was curious to know exactly what the miscellaneous hazmat was; and call Dispatch for clarification. Dispatch called Load Planning and Load Planning was unable to provide further description. Dispatch was busy working several issues with other flights so I offered to call dangerous goods hot-line at. Dangerous Goods Specialist was unable to give further description of shipment. When I ask what drill code '9L' represented; Dangerous Goods Specialist said 'You'll have to look that up in your pilot manual' and was able to provide any further assistance. I called Dispatch back as well as Station Operations trying to find out what exactly the hazardous material shipment was. At some time in this process; somebody offered they thought the shipment was 'airline parts' but had no further information as to what that might be; or what made this a hazardous goods shipment. Batteries; flammability; toxic fumes; etc. At some point in this process; it was decided; not by me; that the shipment would be pulled from the aircraft.
A320 Captain reported a communications breakdown between flight crew and Dispatch regarding the substance of Hazmat on board. Ultimately Hazmat was removed prior to departure.