GHS Classification Result

Chemical Name:sodium hypochlorite, solution ... % Cl active
CAS:7681-52-9

Result:
ID: 20A2243
Classifier: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
Year Classified: FY2008
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government (Sep, 2008)

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 (room temperature)
3 Aerosols Not applicable - - - - Not aerosol products.
4 Oxidizing gases Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
5 Gases under pressure Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
6 Flammable liquids Not classified - - - - A nonflammable liquid (Hommel (1996)).
7 Flammable solid Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
8 Self-reactive substances and mixtures Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups present in the molecule associated with explosive or self-reactive properties.
9 Pyrophoric liquids Not classified - - - - It does not ignite spontaneously in contact with air at ordinary temperature (Hommel (1996)).
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Not classified - - - - A nonflammable liquid (Hommel (1996)).
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 metalloids (B, Si, P, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Po, At).
13 Oxidizing liquids Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Inorganic compound
16 Corrosive to metals Classification not possible - - - - No data available.

HEALTH HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Acute toxicity (Oral) Not classified - - - - Its rat LD50 values of 8910 mg/kg bw (Patty (5th, 2001)), > 5000 mg/kg bw (IUCLID, 2000), and 8200 mg/kg bw (IUCLID, 2000) all fall under the "Not classified" category.
1 Acute toxicity (Dermal) Not classified - - - - Based on its rabbit LD50 of > 10000 mg/kg (IUCLID (2000), the substance was classified into "Not classified".
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) Not applicable - - - - Liquid (room temperature)
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) Classification not possible - - - - Its rat LC50 of > 10.5 mg/L (IUCLID, 2000) is documented; however, since the duration of exposure is not available, classification is not possible. Because its LC50 value was lower than 90% of its saturated vapour pressure concentration (75.1 mg/L), the test is assumed to have been conducted in vapour with almost no included mists.
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists) Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 1 Danger H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage P301+P330+P331: IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
P303+P361+P353: IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P321: Specific treatment (see ... on this label).
P363: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
In rabbit tests (OECD TG 404), irritation scores for erythema and edema (8 maximum) were 1.2 for 2% solution, 5.3 for 20% solution, 5.2 for 35% solution, and 5.3 for 50% solution (IUCLID, 2000); and it is rated as R34 in the EU classification (which is equivalent to Category 1B or 1C) (EU-Annex 1, accessed in August 2008). Based on this information, the substance was classified into Category 1.
3 Serious eye damage/eye irritation Category 1 Danger H318: Causes serious eye damage P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
In Draize tests using rabbits treated with 5% solution, scores were 11 out of 110 for the dose of 0.01 ml, and 40 out of 110 for the dose of 0.1 ml (IUCLID (2000)). In other Draize tests using rabbits treated with 50% solution, the score was 48 out of 110 on Day 21 after the application in rabbits whose eyes were not rinsed (the scores were 27 out of 110 in rabbits whose eyes were rinsed 4 minutes after the application, and 0 out 110 in rabbits whose eyes were rinsed 21 days after the application), which is considered highly irritating (IUCLID (2000)). Furthermore, since its preexisting rating for skin irritation / corrosion is Category 1, the substance was classified into Category 1.
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
4 Skin sensitization Classification not possible - - - - A skin sensitization test using guinea pigs showed that the substance was sensitizing (positive reactions were seen in 2 of 10 animals), while two other skin sensitization tests using guinea pigs concluded that it was not sensitizing (IUCLID (2000)). Also, several positive results have been documented in human patch tests, which include the cases of positive reactions in volunteers who took skin sensitization tests (4 out of 10 people), and positive reactions seen in 1.3% of 225 allergy patients who took patch tests (IUCLID (2000)). However, since these results were not well explained, the substance was classified into "Classification not possible".
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Not classified - - - - The substance was classified into "Not classified" based on negative results obtained in the following tests: chromosomal aberration tests and aneuploidy tests using mouse bone marrow cells (IARC (1991)), several micronucleus tests using mouse bone marrow cells (IARC (1991); IUCLID (2000)), and micronucleus tests using rats (IUCLID (2000). As for in vitro mutagenicity tests, both positive and negative results have been acquired in Ames tests and chromosomal aberration tests (IARC (1991); IUCLID (2000)).
6 Carcinogenicity Not classified - - - - Based on its rating as Group 3 by the IARC, the substance was classified into "Not classified". In the following tests (104-week oral administration tests through drinking water using rats (IARC (1991)), 2-year oral administration tests through drinking water using rats (IARC (1991)), and 103-week oral administration through drinking water using mice (IARC, 1991)), rates of survival and tumorigenesis were not significantly different between treated and control animals regardless of the concentration of sodium hypochlorite applied. In dermal administration tests (IARC (1991); NTP TR. No. 392 (1992); IUCLID (2000)), carcinogenicity was not detected either.
7 Reproductive toxicity Not classified - - - - In seven-generation reproduction tests using rats that were orally administered, no effects on fertility of parental animals or fetuses were observed (IARC (1991). Similarly, in reproduction tests using mice or rats that were orally administered, no effects on fertility or fetuses were detected (IUCLID (2000)). Furthermore, in developmental toxicity tests using rats that were orally administered, no effects were recognized at the highest dose of 100 mg/kg applied, except for a decreased body weight and increased skeletal variation in offspring (IUCLID (2000)). Based on these results, the substance was classified into "Not classified".
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 2 (digestive system), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation) Warning H371: May cause damage to organs (digestive system)
H335: May cause respiratory irritation (respiratory tract irritation)
P309+P311: IF exposed or if you feel unwell: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
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.
The substance was classified into Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation) based on the description that the substance causes coughing and choking through inhalation of the mist, and it may cause severe respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary edema (HSDB (2003)). Furthermore, several cases of accidental intake of bleach by humans were documented in which corrosiveness of the substance affected the esophagus and stomach (IUCLID (2000)). Also, the intake of the solution was reported to have caused hemorrhagic ulcer accompanied with necrosis of the stomach and intestine (IUCLID (2000)). Based on these documents, the substance was also classified into Category 2 for the digestive system.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Classification not possible - - - - In the tests using rats that underwent administration in drinking water for 6 weeks (doses: 20, 40, and 80 mg/L; 90-day conversion: 0.047, 0.93, and 1.87 mg/kg), changes in body weight were observed (IARC (1991)). In the tests using rats that underwent forced oral administration for 14 days (doses: 8, 40, and 200 mg/kg; 90-day conversion: 0.22, 6.67, and 33.3 mg/kg), changes in kidney weight were observed (IARC (1991)). And in the tests using rats that underwent administration in drinking water for 14 days (dose: 625 mg/L, 90-day conversion: 4.86 mg/kg), changes in amount of water intake were observed (IARC (1991)). Other than these changes, no toxic effects of the substance were detected. Since the information on toxic effects at the doses in the range of guidance values is not available in any of the tests, classification is not possible. In addition, oral administration tests using rats or mice have been conducted, but no information is provided other than subtle changes in immunological parameters (IUCLID (2000); (RTECS (2008)); thus, classification is not possible due to lack of data.
10 Aspiration hazard Classification not possible - - - - No data available.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Acute) Category 1 Warning H400: Very toxic to aquatic life P273: Avoid release to the environment.
P391: Collect spillage.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
Since its 24h EC50 = 0.005 mg/L (chlorine concentration, EU-RAR 2006) for crustaceans (a species of the genus, Ceriodaphnia), the substance was classified into Category 1.
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) Category 1 Warning H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects P273: Avoid release to the environment.
P391: Collect spillage.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
Since its classification for acute toxicity is Category 1, and it is considered to be not rapidly degradable as it is an inorganic matter, the substance was classified into Category 1.


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 Label by MHLW

MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)

Model SDS by MHLW

MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)


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