GHS Classification Result （Revision of the past classification result）

Chemical Name：Acetic acid
CAS：64-19-7

Result：
ID: 21B3030
Classifier: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare （MHLW）, Ministry of the Environment （MOE）
Year Classified: FY2009
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government （March, 2009）

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 3 Warning H226: 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 ... 		Classified into Category 3 (GHS criteria: flash point >=23 degC and <=60 degC) from the data of flash point 39 degC (closed-cup) (Merck (14th, 2006), ICSC (J) (1997)) and flash point 43 degC (open-cup) (The Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan, Dictionary of Organic Compounds, Kodansha (1985)). The substance is classified into C:R10 (Flammable) in EU.
7 Flammable solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
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 - - - - Classified into Not classified since auto-ignition point is 427 degC (ICSC (J) (1997)).
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Classification not possible - - - - Test methods applicable to liquid substances are not available.
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 Not applicable - - - - The substance is an organic compound containing oxygen (but not fluorine or chlorine) which is chemically bonded only to carbon or hydrogen.
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Containing no bivalent -O-O- structure in the molecule
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 - - - - Based on LD50 values of 3310 and 3530 mg/kg for rats (PATTY (5th, 2001)), the substance was classified into "Not classified" in JIS Classification (correspond to Category 5 in GHS classification).
1 Acute toxicity （Dermal） Category 4 Warning H312: Harmful in contact with skin P302+P352: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P312: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P322: Specific treatment （see ... on this label）.
P363: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Based on a LD50 value of 1060 mg/kg for rabbits (PATTY (5th, 2001)), the substance was classified into Category 4.
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Gases） Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Vapours） Classification not possible - - - - A LCLo value of 16,000 ppm for rats (PATTY (5th, 2001)) corresponds to Category 4 or "Not classified", classification was not possible. Since the value is lower than 90% of saturated vapour pressure concentration (20394.7 ppmV * 0.90 = 18355 ppmV), the classification criteria for gas was adopted.
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 tests with rabbits and guinea pigs (PATTY (5th, 2001), ACGIH (2004)), the degree of irritation depended on the application concentrations and exposure periods. Concentrations from 50 - 80% produced severe burns and eschar formation. The substance is classified into C; R35 in EU classification. Based on these data, the substance was classified into Category 1. In addition, the pH is 2.4 (1.0M) (Merck (14th, 2006)).
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. 		Glacial acetic acid causes devastating injury immediately after application to the eyes of rabbits (ACGIH (2004)). In another rabbit test, concentrations of 10% and higher produced severe irritation with permanent corneal damage (IUCLID (2000)). Additionally, there is a case report that accidental application to the eyes followed very quickly by irrigation resulted in corneal opacity and iritis. Regeneration of the epithelium took many months, but corneal opacity was permanent (PATTY (5th, 2001)). Based on these data, the substance was classified into Category 1.
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - There are reports that a patient with bronchial asthma reacted to a acetic acid challenge and that the response was similar to a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in an individual exposed either to alcohol or acetic acid (PATTY (5th, 2001)). Additionally, there is a report that a human developed anaphylactic reactions to ethanol and an immediate type allergy to acetic acid (HSDB (2005)). These reported cases are rare. No other data for human cases or animal test results are available, therefore classification was not possible due to lack of sufficient data. However, since association between this substance and asthmatic attack cannot be excluded, care should be taken when handling the substance.
4 Skin sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Classification not possible - - - - Classification not possible due to lack of data from in vivo mutagenicity tests. From in vitro mutagenicity tests, there are reports of a negative Ames test and a negative CHO cell chromosomal aberration test (PATTY (5th, 2001)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - An extensive epidemiological test was conducted at a chemical plant producing acetic acid and acetic anhydride (PATTY (5th, 2001)). Analysis of mortality from cancer among 1359 workers indicated that mortality from all cancers decreased with one exception, mortality from prostate cancer increased (6 cases). It was concluded that the mortality from prostate cancer was difficult to interpret (PATTY (5th, 2001)), therefore, classification was not possible due to lack of data.
7 Reproductive toxicity Classification not possible - - - - In a rat test by exposure from parturition until 18 days old (PATTY (5th, 2001)) and a mouse developmental toxicity test by oral administration (HSDB (2005)), no effects on lactation or fetal development were reported. However, classification was not possible since in these tests there is no data for effects on sexual function and fertility by exposure before mating.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 1 (blood, respiratory system) Danger H370: Causes damage to organs (blood, respiratory system) P307+P311: IF exposed: 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.
P321: Specific treatment （see ... on this label）.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Since there are some case reports that disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, severe hemolysis or ischemic renal failure occurred after ingestion of glacial acetic acid or massive amounts of acetic acid (PATTY (5th, 2001), ACGIH (2004)), the substance was classified into Category 1 (blood system). In addition, based on reports that inhalation exposure can irritate the nose, upper respiratory tract and lung (PATTY (5th, 2001)) and that vapour inhalation to humans may cause corrosive effects on airways and lung oedema (ICSC (J) (1997)), and a report that after an accidental exposure at a petrochemical plant a patient developed both airways obstruction and interstitial pneumonitis (ACGIH (2004)), the substance was classified into Category 1 (respiratory system).
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Classification not possible - - - - Treatment with 3% acetic acid administered intragastrically to rats for 6 months resulted in chronic inflammation of the esophageal mucosa (PATTY (5th, 2001)). Following occupational exposures, workers have complained of digestive disorders with pyrosis and constipation (PATTY (5th, 2001)). A cross-sectional test of 117 female workers found significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chest tightness, nasal catarrh, and sinusitis in exposed workers as compared to controls (ACGIH (2004)). However, classification was not possible due to lack of sufficient 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 3 - - H402: Harmful to aquatic life P273: Avoid release to the environment.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Classified into Category 3 from its 48h-EC50 = 65000 microg/L for Crustacea (Daphnia magna) (AQUIRE, 2010).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment （Long-term） Not classified - - - - Classified into Not classified since it is rapidly degradable (BOD degradation rate: 74% (Biodegradation and Bioconcentration of Existing Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law, 1993)) and low bioaccumulative potential is estimated (log Kow = -0.17 (PHYSPROP Database, 2009)).
12 Hazardous to the ozone layer Classification not possible - - - - This substance is not listed in Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.


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）

To GHS Information