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GHS Classification Result

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	74-85-1
Chemical Name	Ethylene
Substance ID	25B0018
Classification year (FY)	FY2013
Ministry who conducted the classification	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)/Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
New/Revised	Revised
Classification result in other fiscal year	FY2006
Download of Excel format	Excel file

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Item	Information
Guidance used for the classification (External link)	GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government (July, 2013)
UN GHS document (External link)	UN GHS document
Definitions/Abbreviations (Excel file)	Definitions/Abbreviations
Model Label by MHLW (External link)	MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)
Model SDS by MHLW (External link)	MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)
OECD/eChemPortal (External link)	eChemPortal

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Explosives	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
2	Flammable gases (including chemically unstable gases)	Category 1	Danger	H220	P210 P377 P381 P403	From explosion limit (2.7-36.0% (ICSC (1996))), it was classified in Category 1. Besides, it is classified in Division 2.1 (UN1962) in UNRTDG.
3	Aerosols	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products.
4	Oxidizing gases	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is a flammable gas classified in Division 2.1 (UN1038) in UNRTDG.
5	Gases under pressure	Compressed gas or Refrigerated liquefied gas	Warning	H281 H280	P410+P403 P282 P315 P336	It was classified as follows according to the state when packaged. Compressed gas; it is completely gaseous at -50 deg C. Refrigerated liquefied gas; gas is made partially liquid at low temperatures. (Ethylene, Refrigerated liquid: Division 2.1 (UN1038) in UNRTDG)
6	Flammable liquids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
7	Flammable solid	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
9	Pyrophoric liquids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
10	Pyrophoric solids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
14	Oxidizing solids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
15	Organic peroxides	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to gas substances are not available.The classification was revised according to the GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government.

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is described that no effects were observed after 4-hour exposure to 10,000 ppm, 25,000 ppm, > 57,000 ppm (65,550 mg/m3) in rats (IARC 60 (1994), PATTY (6th, 2012)), and that there were no effects after 4-hour exposure to >= 50,000 ppm in rats (ACGIH (7th, 2001)). Therefore, it was classified as "Not classified."
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. It is only described in PATTY (6th, 2012) that it does not irritate the skin, but the details are unknown. Therefore, the category was revised according to the GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government.
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. It is only described in PATTY (6th, 2012) that it does not irritate the eye, but the details are unknown. Therefore, the category was revised according to the GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government.
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Classification not possible" because it was not possible to classify a substance as "Not classified" according to the revised GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government. As for in vivo, negative results are reported in micronucleus tests with bone marrow cells of rats and mice (SIDS (2002), IARC 60 (1994)) and an hprt gene mutation test with rat peripheral blood lymphocytes (IARC 60 (1994)). Furthermore, as for in vitro, it was negative in a bacterial reverse mutation test (SIDS (2002), IARC 60 (1994), NTP DB (Access on June 2013)) and a chromosomal aberration test with cultured mammalian cells (SIDS (2002)).
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Classification not possible" because it is classified in Group 3 in IARC 60 (1994) and A4 in ACGIH (7th, 2001). The category was changed according to the revised GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government.
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. Besides, it is reported that in a reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test with rats (OECD TG 421), no toxicity effects on reproduction and development were observed in parent animals or offspring after inhalation exposure (SIDS (2002), ACGIH (7th, 2001), PATTY (6th, 2012)).
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 3 (Narcotic effects)	Warning	H336	P304+P340 P403+P233 P261 P271 P312 P405 P501	It was classified in Category 3 (narcotic effects) because it is described in ACGIH (7th, 2001) and PATTY (6th, 2012) that this substance is used as an anesthetic in humans, recovery is rapid after exposure termination, and there are no other effects.
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Not classified	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Not classified" because no toxicity signs were observed even at the high doses above the guidance value range for Category 2 in a 90-day inhalation exposure test with rats (ACGIH (7th, 2001), SIDS (2002), and PATTY (6th, 2012)) and a 2-year inhalation exposure test with rats (ACGIH (7th, 2001), PATTY (6th, 2012)). Although there is no information on the other routes, the classification was conducted using test results in the inhalation route only because this substance is a gas according to GHS definition, and exposure is normally in the inhalation route.
10	Aspiration hazard	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Gas (GHS definition)

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Acute)	Category 3	- -	H402	P273 P501	From 72-hour ErC50 = 72 mg/L for algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) (SIDS, 2002), it was classified in Category 3.
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term)	Category 3	- -	H412	P273 P501	If chronic toxicity data are used, then it is classified as "Not classified" due to 28-day NOEC = 13 mg/L for fish (SIDS, 2002) although appropriate data on rapid degradability were not obtained. If acute toxicity data are used for a trophic level for which chronic toxicity data are not obtained, then it is classified in Category 3 due to no appropriate data obtained on rapid degradability, and 72-hour ErC50 = 72 mg/L for algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) (SIDS, 2002). By drawing a comparison between the above results, it was classified in Category 3.
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	This substance is not listed in the Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.

NOTE:

GHS Classification Result by the Japanese Government is intended to provide a reference for preparing a GHS label or SDS for users. To include the same classification result in a label or SDS for Japan is NOT mandatory.
Users can cite or copy this classification result when preparing a GHS label or SDS. Please be aware, however, that the responsibility for a label or SDS prepared by citing or copying this classification result lies with users.
This GHS classification was conducted based on the information sources and the guidance for classification and judgement which are described in the GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government etc. Using other literature, test results etc. as evidence and including different content from this classification result in a label or SDS are allowed.
Hazard statement and precautionary statement will show by hovering the mouse cursor over a code in the column of "Hazard statement" and "Precautionary statement," respectively. In the excel file, both the codes and statements are provided.
A blank or "-" in the column of "Classification" denotes that a classification for the hazard class was not conducted in the year.

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