GHS Classification Result

Chemical Name：Methyl t-butyl ether
CAS：1634-04-4

Result：
ID: 980
Classifier: Inter-ministerial Committee on GHS
Year Classified: FY2006
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Explosives Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecules.
2 Flammable gases （including chemically unstable gases） Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
3 Aerosols Not applicable - - - - Not aerosol products
4 Oxidizing gases Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
5 Gases under pressure Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
6 Flammable liquids Category 2 Danger H225: Highly flammable liquid and vapour P303+P361+P353: IF ON SKIN （or hair）: Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
P370+P378: In case of fire: Use ... for extinction.
P403+P235: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
P210: Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking.
P233: Keep container tightly closed.
P240: Ground/bond container and receiving equipment.
P241: Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/lighting/.../equipment.
P242: Use only non-sparking tools.
P243: Take precautionary measures against static discharge.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Flash point: <23degC, Initial boiling point: >35degC, UNRTDG Class: 3, PG II
7 Flammable solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
8 Self-reactive substances and mixtures Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups associated with explosive or self-reactive properties present in the molecule.
9 Pyrophoric liquids Not classified - - - - Flash point: 224degC (Merck, Access on Dec. 2005)
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Not classified - - - - UNRTDG Class: 3
12 Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Not applicable - - - - The chemical structure of the substance does not contain metals or metaloids(B, Si, P, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Po, At).
13 Oxidizing liquids Not applicable - - - - Organic compounds containing oxygen (but not chlorine and fluorine) chemically bonded only to carbon and hydrogen (but not to other elements).
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Containing no -0-0- structure
16 Corrosive to metals Not classified - - - - UNRTDG Class: 3

HEALTH HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Acute toxicity （Oral） Category 5 - Warning H303: May be harmful if swallowed P312: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell. Rat LD50 value: 4000mg/kg (MOE Risk Assessment the 4th volume, 2005, DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002), 3800mg/kg (EHC 206. 1998, DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002), 3866mg/kg (EHC 206, 1998, ATSDR, 1996, EU-RAR, 2002), 2963mg/kg (IARC 73, 1999, ACGIH, 2002) and > 2000mg/kg (EU-RAR, 2002). Based on the data above, it was classified to category 5.
1 Acute toxicity （Dermal） Not classified - - - - It was set as the outside of Category. Based on rabbit LD50 values: >10200mg/kg (EHC 206, 1998, DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002), 10000mg/kg (EHC 206, 1998, DFGOT vol.17, 2002), > 10000mg/kg (EU-RAR, 2002, ATSDR, 1996), 7400mg/kg (IARC 73, 1999), and rat LD50 values: >6800mg/kg (DFGOT vol.17, 2002) and >2000mg/kg (EU-RAR, 2002).
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Gases） Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Vapours） Not classified - - - - Calculated based on rat LC50 (4 hours): 84.825mg/L (MOE Risk Assessment the 4th volume, 2005, ACGIH, 2002), 85mg/L (DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002), 86mg/L (IARC 73, 1999), 41mg/L (MOE Risk Assessment the 4th volume, 2005), 142mg/L (DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002, ATSDR, 1996), and 120mg/L (EU-RAR, 2002, ATSDR, 1996). The calculated value was 79.004mg/L.. And this is considered steam with almost no mist from vapor pressure, it was classified as out of Category based on the converted value of 21946ppm.
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Dusts and mists） Classification not possible - - - - No data available
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 2 Warning H315: Causes skin irritation P302+P352: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P332+P313: If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P321: Specific treatment （see ... on this label）.
P362: Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. 		It was set as Category 2 from description that moderate to serious dropsy and moderate erythema were acknowledged in the study applied to the skin of the rabbit for 4 hours (EU-RAR (2002)).
3 Serious eye damage/eye irritation Category 2B - Warning H320: Causes eye irritation P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P337+P313: If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling. 		We classified it as Category 2B based on the descriptions that change of the eye which indicates irritation was seen and it recovered within seven days in the tests applied to the eyes of the rabbits (EHC 206 (1998), ACGIH (2002), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002) and EU-RAR (2002)).
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data
4 Skin sensitization Not classified - - - - Based on the descriptions that sensitizing property was not acknowledged in Maximization test using the guinea pigs in EHC 206 (1998), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002), and EU-RAR (2002), we classified it to be Out Of Category.
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Not classified - - - - There is the negative results by the chromosomal aberration test using a rat myeloid cell which is the in vivo mutagenicity test using a somatic (MOE Risk Assessment No. 4, 2005, EHC 206, 1998, ATSDR, 1996, ACGIH, 2002, IARC 73, 1999, EU-RAR, 2002), the micronucleus test which uses a mouse bone marrow cell (MOE Risk Assessmen, No. 4, 2005, EHC 206, 1998, ATSDR, 1996, ACGIH, 2002, IARC 73, 1999, DFGOT vol.17, 2002, EU-RAR, 2002), and the micronucleus test which uses a rat myeloid cell (NTP DB, 2005). So it carried out the outside of Category.
6 Carcinogenicity Category 2 Warning H351: Suspected of causing cancer P308+P313: IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.
P201: Obtain special instructions before use.
P202: Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood.
P281: Use personal protective equipment as required.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		It was classified into the group 3 (IARC 73, 1999) in IARC. But it was classified into A3 (AICGIH, 2002) in ACGIH. So it was considered as Category 2 according to ACGIH which is latest assessment document.
7 Reproductive toxicity Not classified - - - - It was considered as out of Category based on the description that clear reproductive toxicity was not observed even at the dose in which general toxicity is observed in parental animals in reproduction study by inhalation exposure using rat (MOE Risk Assessment The 4th volume (2005), EHC 206 (1998), ACGIH (2002), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002), IARC 73 (1999), EU-RAR (2002), ATSDR (1996), and IRIS (2005)), and in the fetus exposure tests of organogenesis inhalation using rats, rabbits and mice.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 3 （Narcotic effects, Respiratory tract irritation） Warning H335: May cause respiratory irritation (narcotic effects, respiratory tract irritation)
H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness (narcotic effects, respiratory tract irritation) 		P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P403+P233: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
P261: Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P271: Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P312: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Because of descriptions in EHC 206 (1998), ACGIH (2002), EU-RAR (2002), and ATSDR (1996) referring to that effects indicating respiratory irritation such as decreased respiratory rates were confirmed in inhalation exposure tests using rats or mice, and of descriptions in EHC 206 (1998), ACGIH (2002), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002), EU-RAR (2002), IARC 73 (1999), and IRIS (2005) referring to confirmation of symptoms indicating transient central-nerves depressions such as ataxia, active falls, and muscular hypotonia in inhalation exposure and oral administration tests using rats. So it was judged as Category 3 (respiratory irritation, anesthesia action). Moreover, there are descriptions in some examples of exposure as effects on humans in EHC 206 (1998), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002), and EU-RAR (2002) referring to confirmation of a very mild condition such as having a feeling that head was heavy.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Not classified - - - - Based on the descriptions that no serious toxic effect was observed even with the dose exceeding the guidance value range for Category 2 in the inhalation atmospheric exposure test on rats and mice and in the oral administration study on rats (MOE Risk Assessment The 4th volume (2005), EHC 206 (1998), ATSDR (1996), ACGIH (2002), DFGOT (vol.17, 2002), EU-RAR (2002), IARC 73 (1999) and IRIS (2005)), it was classified as out of Category.
10 Aspiration hazard Category 1 Danger H304: May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways P301+P310: IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P331: Do NOT induce vomiting.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Since there is a description that when the liquid is swallowed, the chemical pneumonia may be occurred in aspiration into lungs (MOE Risk Assessment the 4th volume (2005)), we classified it as Category 1.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment （Acute） Not classified - - - - It carried out the outside of Category from 96-hour EC50=136mg/L of Crustacea (Mysid shrimp) (EU-RAR, 2002).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment （Long-term） Not classified - - - - Since not water-insoluble (aqueous solubility =51000mg/L(PHYSPROP Database, 2005)) and acute toxicity is low.


NOTE:
* Classification was conducted by relevant Japanese Ministries in accordance with GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government, and is intended to provide a reference for preparing GHS labelling and SDS for users.
* This is a provisional English translation of classification results and is subject to revision without notice.
* The responsibility for any resulting GHS labelling and SDS referenced from this site is with users.

Reference：
Reference Manual
Definitions / Abbreviations
Model SDS by MHLW

 MHLW Website （in Japanese Only）

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