GHS Classification Result (Revision of the past classification result)

Chemical Name:Propionic acid
CAS:79-09-4

Result:
ID: 21B3051
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 ...
Flash point 53 degC (closed-cup) (ICSC (J) (1997)) is >=23 degC and <=60 degC.
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 - - - - Auto-ignition point is 485 degC (ICSC (J) (1997)) exceeding 70 degC.
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 contains oxygen (but not fluorine or chlorine) in the molecule 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 - - - - Information is available that the substance corrodes metals (ICSC (J) (1997), however, no data by the designated test methods are 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 2600 mg/kg (PATTY (5th, 2001)) and 4260 mg/kg (ACGIH (2001)) for rats, the substance was classified into "Not classified" in JIS Classification (correspond to Category 5 in GHS classification).
1 Acute toxicity (Dermal) Category 3 Danger H311: Toxic 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).
P361: Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing.
P363: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
Based on a LD50 value of 496 mg/kg for rabbits (ACGIH (2001)), the substance was classified into Category 3.
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) Not classified - - - - Based on no mortality in rats exposed to saturated vapours of the substance (4650 ppm: 14.01 mg/L) for 8-hour (ACGIH (2001)), the LC0 (8h) was >14.01 mg/L/8h (LC0 (4h): 19.9 mg/L = approximately 20 mg/L/4h). The substance was classified as "Not classified" in JIS Classification (correspond to Category 5 or "Not classified" in GHS classification).
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists) Classification not possible - - - - Classification not possible due to lack of data. As relevant information, a LC50 value was 19.7 mg/L (4-hour equivalence: >4.9 mg/L) for rats (IUCLID (2000)).
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 reports that application to rabbit skin produced a severe response (PATTY (5th, 2001), tissue necrosis (ACGIH (2001), PATTY (5th, 2001)) and corrosion (IUCLID (2000)), the substance was classified into Category 1. As relevant information, the substance is classified into R34 in EU classification.
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.
Since the substance caused severe injury, graded 9 on a scale of 10 in a rabbit test (HSDB (2006)) and there is a result of "corrosive" in another test (IUCLID (2000)), the substance was classified into Category 1. As relevant information, the substance is classified as corrosive to skin.
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - Classification not possible due to lack of data. Although there is a case report of mild cough and asthmatic reaction in a worker who was acutely exposed to the substance (ACGIH (2001)), this information is not sufficient as evidence for classification.
4 Skin sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available. The calcium and sodium salts of the substance are reported to be "not sensitizing" in a guinea pig maximization test (IUCLID (2000)).
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Not classified - - - - Based on negative results in a rat dominant lethal test by oral administration (in vivo heritable germ cell mutagenicity test) (IUCLID (2000)), a Chinese hamster micronucleus test by intraperitoneal administration (PATTY (5th, 2001)) and a rat bone marrow chromosomal aberration test by oral administration (IUCLID (2000)) (in vivo somatic cell mutagenicity tests), the substance was classified as "Not classified". As relevant information, from in vitro mutagenicity tests, there are reports of a negative Ames test (PATTY (5th, 2001)) and a negative human WI38 cell chromosomal aberration test (IUCLID (2000)). In addition, for calcium propionate, there are reports of a negative rat dominant lethal test and a negative rat bone marrow chromosomal aberration test (PATTY (5th, 2001)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - Although there is a report that forestomach precancerous lesions such as papilloma and hyperplasia were observed in a rat long-term (life-time) feeding test (PATTY (5th, 2001)), classification was not possible due to lack of sufficient data.
7 Reproductive toxicity Classification not possible - - - - There is a report that no effects on maternal animals or fetal survival and no increase in the number of fetal abnormalities were seen when the substance was fed to pregnant rats, mice, hamsters, or rabbits (PATTY (5th, 2001)). However, 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 3 (Respiratory tract irritation) Warning H335: May cause respiratory irritation (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 ...
Inhaling the substance can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath in humans (HSFS (2001)). Irritation of the respiratory system was observed in rats following inhalation exposure for 4-hour (HSDB (2000)). Based on the data, the substance was classified into Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation).
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Classification not possible - - - - In feeding tests in rats (for 3 months) and dogs (for 100 days), the substance mainly caused effects by site of contact, changes of the mucosa of the forestomach (acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and proliferation of the epithelium) were observed in rats and epithelial hyperplasia in the esophagus was observed in dogs at the high dose group. Other severe toxic findings were not noted. NOAELs are reported to be dietary concentrations of 2.5% (correspond to approximately 1250 mg/kg/day) in rats and 1% (correspond to 600 - 696 mg/kg/day) in dogs (SIDS (2008)). Since the NOAELs exceed the upper limit of the guidance value range for Category 2, the substance corresponds to "Not classified" with oral exposure. However, classification was not possible due to lack of data with other exposure routes.
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 = 22.7 ppm for Crustacea (Daphnia magna) (SIDS, 2007).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) Not classified - - - - Classified into Not classified since the toxicity is mitigated in environmental water by buffer action though it is considered to be a factor of toxicity that water solution become strongly acidic.
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)


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