GHS Classification Result （Revision of the past classification result）

Chemical Name：Iron (III) chloride
CAS：7705-08-0

Result：
ID: 21B3043
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 - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
3 Aerosols Not applicable - - - - Not aerosol products
4 Oxidizing gases Not applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
5 Gases under pressure Not applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
6 Flammable liquids Not applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
7 Flammable solids Not classified - - - - Not combustible (ICSC (2004))
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 applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
10 Pyrophoric solids Not classified - - - - Not combustible (ICSC (2004))
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Not classified - - - - Not combustible (ICSC (2004))
12 Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Not classified - - - - Water solubility is 92 g/100 mL (20 degC) (reaction) (ICSC (2004)).
13 Oxidizing liquids Not applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
14 Oxidizing solids Classification not possible - - - - Classification is not possible since no data are available though the substance is inorganic compound containing chlorine (but not oxygen).
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Inorganic compound
16 Corrosive to metals Classification not possible - - - - Test methods applicable to solid substances are not available. Information is available that the substance is corrosive to most metals (Hommel (1996)).

HEALTH HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Acute toxicity （Oral） Category 4 Warning H302: Harmful if swallowed P301+P312: IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P330: Rinse mouth.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Based on LD50 values of 1872 mg/kg (IUCLID (2000)), 500 - 5000 mg/kg (IUCLID (2000)) and 900 mg/kg (IUCLID (2000)) for rats, the substance was classified into Category 4 because 3 values are in this category.
1 Acute toxicity （Dermal） Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Gases） Not applicable - - - - Solid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Vapours） Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
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 ... 		Based on a result of irritating in a rabbit test (BASF test) with the anhydrous substance (IUCLID (2000)) and a report that the pH of a 0.1M aqueous solution of the substance is 2.0 (HSDB (2005)), 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. 		Based on a result of "highly irritating" in a rabbit test with application of a 40% solution to the eye (IUCLID (2000)) and a report that the pH of a 0.1M aqueous solution is 2.0 (HSDB (2005)), the substance was classified into Category 1.
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
4 Skin sensitization Classification not possible - - - - In a guinea pig test, sensitization was observed in 1 of 2 animals tested. No conclusions can be drawn from this test since only 2 animals were tested and insufficient details of the test method are available (IUCLID (2000)). There is a case report of a 66-year old white man who showed contact sensitization to iron and a positive patch test to a 2% solution of the substance (IUCLID (2000)). No additional case care reports are available. Classification was not possible due to lack of sufficient data.
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Classification not possible - - - - Although there are positive results in a mouse bone marrow chromosomal aberration test and a micronucleus test by oral administration (in vivo somatic cell mutagenicity tests) (IUCLID (2000)), the results were not used as the basis of classification since the details are unknown. Additionally, from in vitro mutagenicity tests, there are reports of a negative Ames test and a negative mouse lymphoma L5178Y cell assay. Since the positive results are not supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity tests, classification was not possible. As relevant information, there is a report of a negative mouse testis chromosomal aberration test (in vivo germ cell mutagenicity test) (IUCLID (2000)). The details for this last test are also unknown.
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - In a rat test by administration in drinking water for 2 years, no statistically significant increase in the incidence of any tumor was found and it was concluded that under the conditions of this test the substance exerts no carcinogenic potential in rats (HSDB (2005)). Since the result was obtained from a single species, classification was not possible due to lack of sufficient data.
7 Reproductive toxicity Classification not possible - - - - In a rat test by oral administration in the drinking water during organogenesis period, there was a slight reduction in maternal weight gain but no teratogenic or foetotoxic effect was observed (IUCLID (2000)). Classification was not possible since there are no data for effects on sexual function and fertility by exposure before mating.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 2 (systemic toxicity), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation) Warning H371: May cause damage to organs (systemic toxicity)
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. 		Based on a report that a 25-year-old woman had hypoxemia and severe metabolic acidosis after ingestion of 200 mL ferric chloride solution (pH 1.0) (HSDB (2005)), the substance was classified into Category 2 (systemic toxicity). The patient symptoms included drowsy consciousness, tachycardia, tachypnea and protracted vomiting at 3-hour after ingestion. 4-hour after ingestion cardiopulmonary arrest suddenly occurred after severe vomiting and she expired. In addition, based on a report that inhalation of ferric salts as dusts and mists is irritating to the respiratory tract (ACGIH (2001), HSDB (2005)), the substance was classified into Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation).
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Classification not possible - - - - In a 21-day feeding test in rats at 0.75% (approximately 760 mg/kg/day), there was no significant toxic effect reported (IUCLID (2000)). In 98-day, 7-month and 2-year tests in rats by administration in drinking water, reduced bodyweight, decreased water consumption, alternation in haematological and biochemical parameters and haemosiderosis were observed (IUCLID (2000)). Since detailed data are not reported, the actual dose per body weight for these drinking water tests cannot be determined.
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 = 9.6 mg/L (27.8 mg/L as ferric chloride) for Crustacea (Daphnia magna) (SIDS, 2007).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment （Long-term） Category 3 - - H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects P273: Avoid release to the environment.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Classified into Category 3 since its acute toxicity is Category 3 and the behavior in water are unknown from which it is a metal compound.
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