NITE - Chemical Management Field

GHS Classification Result

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	7782-49-2
Chemical Name	Selenium
Substance ID	H26-B-056, -
Classification year (FY)	FY2014
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 for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition)
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	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups present in the molecule associated with explosive properties.
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	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2009)).
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	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2009)).
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2009)).
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	Not classified	- -	-	-	From the result that it is insoluble in water (ICSC (2009)), it is estimated that it does not react vigorously with water.
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)
14	Oxidizing solids	Not applicable	- -	-	-	It is an inorganic compound containing no oxygen or halogen.
15	Organic peroxides	Not applicable	- -	-	-	It is an inorganic compound.
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to solid substances are not available.

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on a report of an LD50 value for rats of 6,700 mg/kg (Initial Risk Assessment Report (NITE, CERI, NEDO, 2008), ATSDR (2003), ACGIH (7th, 2001), OEL Documentations (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2000), EHC 85 (1986)), it was classified as "Not classified."
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	There is a report of an LCLo value for rats of <= 33 mg/m3 (Initial Risk Assessment Report (NITE, CERI, NEDO, 2008)), but by this data alone, it is not possible to specify the category to which the LC50 value corresponds, so it was classified as "Classification not possible." Besides, since the LCLo value was higher than the saturated vapor concentration (3.2 mg/m3), the reference value as the dust was applied.
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
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	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Since selenium and its compounds were classified in Group 3 by IARC (suppl 7, 1987) and as D by EPA (1991), it was classified as "Classification not possible."
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	In reproductive toxicity tests with rats by the oral route (feeding), despite no description of general toxicity in parental animals, decreased fertility and postnatal death were reported (EHC 58 (1986)). However, the number of animals per group was as small as 2 males and 4-6 females, the reporting year, 1936, is long ago, and the test is different from the present reproductive test, so it was judged as insufficient data for classification and it was classified as "Classification not possible." The information for the previous classification was reviewed and the category was changed.
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory organs, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract)	Danger	H370	P308+P311 P260 P264 P270 P321 P405 P501	There are reports that in humans, this substance caused respiratory tract irritation by the inhalation route and dyspnea, bronchial spasms, bronchitis and chemical pneumonia in severe exposure (ATSDR (2003), HSDB (Access on August 2014), OEL Documentations (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2000), ACGIH (7th, 2001)), that the primary site of injury by acute inhalation exposure to the fumes and dust was the respiratory organs (ACGIH (7th, 2001), ATSDR (2003)), and that by oral ingestion, it caused acute selenium poisoning and there were gastrointestinal disorders, neuropathy, respiratory insufficiency, myocardial infarction and effects on cardiovascular systems (Initial Risk Assessment Report (NITE, CERI, NEDO, 2008), PATTY (6th, 2012), ATSDR (2003)). In experimental animals, there is a report that the primary site of injury by acute inhalation exposure to the dust was the respiratory organs (ATSDR (2003)). When rats were exposed by inhalation to 0.033 mg/L of the dust, severe respiratory effects including lung hemorrhage and pulmonary edema were observed, and interstitial pneumonitis was observed in surviving animals (ATSDR (2003)). In addition, mild interstitial pneumonitis, lung congestion, and slight emphysema were also observed by inhalation exposure of rabbits and guinea pigs to the dust (ATSDR (2003), HSDB (Access on August 2014)). These effects on the lungs were observed within the guidance value range corresponding to Category 1. From the above, this substance is reported to affect the central nervous system, respiratory organs, cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract in humans. On the other hand, in experimental animals, effects on the respiratory organs were observed in the concentration range corresponding to Category 1. Therefore, it was classified in Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory organs, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract).
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (nervous system, respiratory organs, liver)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	Development of symptoms was observed in 35 out of 62 workers exposed to airborne selenium concentrations of 0.007-0.05 mg/m3 at a selenium refining plant, with nervous system and gastrointestinal symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and nausea in more than half of the workers, and with conjunctivitis and bronchitis in 9 workers (Initial Risk Assessment Report (NITE, CERI, NEDO, 2008), ACGIH (7th, 2001), EHC 58 (1986)). Other than this, in workers exposed to a fume of metallic selenium and workers handling metallic selenium and sodium selenite, edema of the face, etc. and an enlarged liver (only in the latter) were observed. There is a case report that in long-term exposure to a mixed aerosol of metal selenium and selenium dioxide, rhinitis, nasal bleeding, and pain in the extremities developed (Initial Risk Assessment Report (NITE, CERI, NEDO, 2008)). Data on repeated exposure of experimental animals to metal selenium are extremely limited. There is a description that after inhalation exposure of 33 mg/m3 to guinea pigs and rabbits every other day for 4 hours/time, 8 times, congestion of the lung and interstitial pneumonia and congestion and fatty degeneration of the liver in guinea pigs, and congestion of the lung and pneumonia in rabbits were observed (ATSDR (2003)). Although it is not available for classification, the information was considered to support the adverse findings in humans. Therefore, based on the findings in humans, it was classified in Category 1 (nervous system, respiratory organs, liver).
10	Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.

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)	-	- -	-	-	-
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term)	-	- -	-	-	-
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	-	- -	-	-	-

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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