NITE - Chemical Management Field

Latest GHS Classification Results by the Japanese Government (edited by NITE)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	151-50-8
Chemical Name	Potassium cyanide
Substance ID	m-nite-151-50-8_v1
Download of Excel format	Excel file

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Item	Information
Guidance used for the classification (External link)	To Guidance List
UN GHS document (External link)	To UN GHS document
FAQ（GHS classification results by the Japanese Government）	To FAQ
List of Information Sources (Excel file)	List of Information Sources
List of Definitions/Abbreviations	Definitions/Abbreviations
Sample Label by MHLW (External link)	To Workplace Safety Site (MHLW)
Sample SDS by MHLW (External link)	To Workplace Safety Site (MHLW)
OECD/eChemPortal (External link)	To OECD/eChemPortal (External link)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification	Classification year (FY)	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government
1	Explosives	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Containing no chemical groups with explosive properties	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
2	Flammable gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
3	Aerosols	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
4	Oxidizing gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
5	Gases under pressure	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
6	Flammable liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
7	Flammable solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	Non-flammable (ICSC, 2004)	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Containing no chemical groups with explosive or self-reactive properties	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
9	Pyrophoric liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
10	Pyrophoric solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	Non-combustible (ICSC, 2004)	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Not classified	- -	-	-	Non-combustible (ICSC, 2004)	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	Not classified	- -	-	-	Stable to water - water solubility: 71.8g/100mL, ICSC (2004)	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Classified as "solid" according to GHS definition	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
14	Oxidizing solids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Inorganic compounds containing no oxygen and halogen	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
15	Organic peroxides	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Not organic compounds	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to solid substances are not available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
17	Desensitized explosives	-	- -	-	-	-	-	-

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification	Classification year (FY)	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	Category 2	Danger	H300	P301+P310 P264 P270 P321 P330 P405 P501	Based on the rat LD50 (oral route) value of 10mg/kg representing the lower of the two testing data, 10mg/kg and 7.49 mg/kg (CICAD 61 (2004)).	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Category 1	Danger	H310	P302+P352 P361+P364 P262 P264 P270 P280 P310 P321 P405 P501	Based on the testing data of rabbit LD50 (dermal route) of 22.3mg/kg (CICAD 61 (2004)).	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Due to the fact that the substance is "solid" according to the GHS definition and inhalation of its gas is not expected.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Category 3	- Warning	-	-	Based on the following description found in CICAD (2004): "Cyanide is slightly irritating to the skin and eye", although no data is available for potassium cyanide. Although the present substance is a salt of a weak acid and a strong base and the pH of its aqueous solution is expected to exceed 11.5, no description specifying the pH could be found, so classification by pH was not conducted.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 2A	Warning	H319	P305+P351+P338 P337+P313 P264 P280	Based on the following description found among the data on cyanide in CICAD (2004): "conjunctival hyperaemia with mild chemosis, lacrimation, photophobia, and tingling sensation", although the substance should be placed in Category 2A from the viewpoint of safety. Although the present substance is a salt of a weak acid and a strong base and the pH of its aqueous solution is expected to exceed 11.5, no description specifying the pH could be found, so classification by pH was not conducted.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Based on the absence of data on multi-generation mutagenicity tests, in vivo germ/somatic cell mutagenicity tests, in vivo germ/somatic cell genotoxicity tests, and no strong positive data on in vitro mutatogenicity tests (several indices), described in CICAD 61 (2004).	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Insufficient data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 2 (central nervous system)	Warning	H371	P308+P311 P260 P264 P270 P405 P501	Based on the human evidence including "coma, bradypnea, parkinsonian syndromes (following ingestion)," "severe damage to the putamen and globus pallidus (observed in autopsy specimens)," "coma, apnea, metabolic acidosis, convulsions (within an hour of exposure)" (HSDB (2000)). A brain disorder is indicated - which is considered an unusual case, given the absence of similar data and the description to the effect that "this clinical report is the first of its kind concerning Parkinson's disease in relation to the toxicity of cyanogen compounds." The effects are observed in the central nervous system.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (thyroid, kidney, liver, spleen, central nervous system)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	Based on the evidence from animal studies including "degeneration of the kidneys, liver and thyroid gland," "cytoplasmic vacuolation possibly reflecting edematous degeneration of the epithelial cells lining proximal convoluted tubules; spheroids in the anterior horn of spinal cord, loss of nerve cells in the hippocampus, Purkinje cell damage, neuropathological findings including cerebellar deficiency" (CICAD 61 2004). The effects on experimental animals were observed at dosing levels within the guidance value ranges for Category 1.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
10	Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification	Classification year (FY)	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Short term (Acute)	Category 1	Warning	H400	P273 P391 P501	It was classified into Category 1 from 96 hours LC50=0.113mg/L of the crustacea (Mysid Shrimp)) (ECETOC TR91, 2003).	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	Category 1	Warning	H410	P273 P391 P501	Since acute toxicity was Category 1 and an underwater action and bio-accumulation were unknown, it was classified into Category 1.	FY2006	GHS Classification Manual （10 Feb, 2006）
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.
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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