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GHS Classification Results by the Japanese Government

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	7440-47-3
Chemical Name	Chromium
Substance ID	R01-B-056
Classification year (FY)	FY2019
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 (Ver. 1.1))
UN GHS document (External link)	UN GHS document
Definitions/Abbreviations (Excel file)	Definitions/Abbreviations
Model Label by MHLW (External link)
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	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
2	Flammable gases	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
3	Aerosols	*	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
4	Oxidizing gases	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
5	Gases under pressure	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
6	Flammable liquids	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
7	Flammable solids	*	- -	-	-	There is information that it is combustible (GESTIS (Access on September 2019)), but the classification is not possible due to no data.
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups present in the molecule associated with explosive or self-reactive properties. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
9	Pyrophoric liquids	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
10	Pyrophoric solids	*	- -	-	-	No data available.
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	*	- -	-	-	No data available.
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	*	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Not classified" because it is estimated that it does not react vigorously with water from data: it is insoluble in water (ICSC (2004))
13	Oxidizing liquids	*	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
14	Oxidizing solids	*	- -	-	-	Inorganic substances containing no oxygen or halogen atoms. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
15	Organic peroxides	*	- -	-	-	Not organic compounds. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
16	Corrosive to metals	*	- -	-	-	Classification is not possible because test methods applicable to solid substances are not available.
17	Desensitized explosives	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified."

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Solid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data. [Reference Data, etc.] (1) The surface of this substance (metallic chromium) is coated with chromium oxide. It was concluded that chromium oxide is not irritating to the skin in a skin irritation test with rabbits according to OECD TG 404. Therefore, this substance is also considered not to be irritating (REACH registration dossier (Access on September 2019)).
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 2	Warning	H319	P305+P351+P338 P337+P313 P264 P280	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), it was classified in Category 2. Since detailed data was not obtained, sub-categorization was not performed. [Evidence Data] (1) Particles of this substance may cause irritation to the eyes (HSDB (Access on September 2019)).
4	Respiratory sensitization	Category 1A	Danger	H334	P304+P340 P342+P311 P261 P284 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), it was classified in Category 1A. [Evidence Data] (1) It was classified in occupational sensitizers to the airway Group 2 by Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH) (OEL Documentations (Occupational sensitizer classification) (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2010)).
4	Skin sensitization	Category 1A	Warning	H317	P302+P352 P333+P313 P362+P364 P261 P272 P280 P321 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), it was classified in Category 1A. [Evidence Data] (1) It was classified in occupational skin sensitizers Group 1 by Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH) (OEL Documentations (Occupational sensitizer classification) (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2010)).
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data. Classification results were changed by examining evidence data. [Reference Data, etc.] (1) As for in vivo, it is reported that when rats were exposed to the fumes, there were positive results in a chromosomal aberration test and a sister chromatid exchange test with rat peripheral blood lymphocytes and a negative result in a rat bone marrow chromosomal aberration test. However, it is noted that some oxidation of this substance may have occurred during generation of the fumes (IARC 49 (1990)). (2) As for in vitro, although it is not a data from standard tests, a negative result was reported in a mammalian cell transformation assay (IARC 49 (1990)). (3) As a result of comparing 39 workers exposed to chromium with 18 controls, a correlation was found between the prevalence of sister chromatid exchanges and of individual DNA strand breakage versus the concentration of chromium in the urine (PATTY (6th, 2012), HSDB (Access on September 2019)).
6	Carcinogenicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on classification results by other organizations shown in (1), it was classified as "Classification not possible" in accordance with the GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government. [Evidence Data] (1) As for classification results by domestic and international organizations, IARC classified metallic chromium and trivalent chromium compounds in Group 3 (IARC49 (1990)).
7	Reproductive toxicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Since no data exist for this substance (metallic chromium), it was classified as "Classification not possible" due to lack of data. [Reference Data, etc.] (1) Japan Society For Occupational Health classified chromium and chromium compounds in reproductive toxicants Group 3 (equivalent to Category 2) (OEL Documentations (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2014)). Besides, there are no reports on the reproductive toxicity of metallic chromium, and this classification was based on the data on the reproductive toxicity of Cr (III) and Cr (VI). Therefore, these data were used as reference data.
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 3 (Respiratory tract irritation)	Warning	H335	P304+P340 P403+P233 P261 P271 P312 P405 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1) and (2), it was classified in Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation). The description that metal fume fever may occur, which was used in the previours classification as a basis for systemic toxicity, was not adopted because it was derived from an information source in List 3. Therefore, the classification result was changed. [Evidence Data] (1) This substance may cause upper and lower respiratory tract irritation if inhaled (ACGIH (7th, 2018)). (2) Aerosols of this substance caused irritation to the upper respiratory tract (HSDB (Access on September 2019)).
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data. [Reference Data, etc.] (1) Although metallic chromium is insoluble, it may cause upper and lower respiratory tract irritation if inhaled (ACGIH (7th, 2018)). (2) In an inhalation exposure test in which rabbits were exposed to metallic chromium dust at 0, 0.6, or 3.1 mg/m3 for 4 weeks (6 hours/day, 5 days/week), no chromium-related effects were found in the lungs, alveolar macrophages or function in vitro (ACGIH (7th, 2018)). (3) Work in a place where the dusts, vapors or gases of chromium are generated is listed in Article 18 in Ordinance for Enforcement of the Labor Standards Act (work particularly harmful to health as prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set forth in item (i) of paragraph (6) of Article 36 of the Act) (Ordinance for Enforcement of the Labor Standards Act).
10	Aspiration hazard	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] 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 Short term (Acute)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.

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.
An asterisk “*” in the column of “Classification” denotes that “Not classified (or No applicable)” and/or “Classification not possible” is applicable. Details are described in the column of “Rationale for the classification”. If no English translation is available for “Rationale for the classification,” please refer to the Japanese version of the results.

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