NITE - Chemical Management Field

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	556-61-6
Chemical Name	Methyl isothiocyanate
Substance ID	m-nite-556-61-6_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)	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
2	Flammable gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
3	Aerosols	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
4	Oxidizing gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
5	Gases under pressure	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
6	Flammable liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition). Besides, as a liquid, from a flash point of 32 deg C (Hommel (1997)), it is classified in Category 3.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
7	Flammable solids	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	It is estimated that it corresponds to Category 1 because it is very combustible from a flash point of 32 deg C (Hommel (1997)), but the classification is not possible because test data on the rate of burning was not obtained.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups present in the molecule associated with explosive or self-reactive properties.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
9	Pyrophoric liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
10	Pyrophoric solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	Because it is classified as poisonous material, Division 6.1 (Subsidiary Risk 3: flammable), PG I (UN 2477) in UNRTDG, it is estimated that it does not correspond to hazard class of the highest precedence, pyrophoric solid.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to solid (melting point <= 140 deg C) substances are not available.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	Not classified (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).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
14	Oxidizing solids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Organic compounds containing no oxygen, fluorine or chlorine	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
15	Organic peroxides	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Organic compounds containing no bivalent -O-O- structure in the molecule	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	It is solid with a melting point of 55 deg C or lower, but the classification is not possible due to no data.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
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 3	Danger	H301	P301+P310 P264 P270 P321 P330 P405 P501	Based on a report of an LD50 value of 200 mg/kg (OECD TG 423 compliant (GLP)) for rats (JECDB (Access on November 2015)), it was classified in Category 3.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Category 1	Danger	H310	P302+P352 P361+P364 P262 P264 P270 P280 P310 P321 P405 P501	As for rats, there are a report of LD50 values of approximately 1,000 mg/kg (male) and 1,930 mg/kg (female) (Evaluation of effect for the food safety (Food Safety Commission, 2015)), and three reports of 2,780 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on January 2016), Evaluation of effect for the food safety (Food Safety Commission, 2015), Pesticide safety information (Japan Crop Protection Association): Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science Vol. 15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)). Two reports correspond to Category 4, and three correspond to "Not classified" (Category 5 in UN GHS classification), thus, for rats, the data with the largest number of reports correspond to "Not classified" (Category 5 in UN GHS classification). As for rabbits, there is a report of an LD50 of 33 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on January 2016)), and this corresponds to Category 1. By comparing categories for rats and rabbits, it was classified in Category 1 with higher hazard.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Category 2	Danger	H330	P304+P340 P403+P233 P260 P271 P284 P310 P320 P405 P501	Based on a report of an LC50 value (1 hour) of 1.9 mg/L (converted 4-hour equivalent value: 0.475 mg/L) for rats (HSDB (Access on January 2016), Evaluation of effect for the food safety (Food Safety Commission, 2015), Pesticide safety information (Japan Crop Protection Association): Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science Vol. 15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)), it was classified in Category 2. Besides, the reference value of the dust was applied because the test substance is a solid.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Category 2	Warning	H315	P302+P352 P332+P313 P362+P364 P264 P280 P321	Based on a description that this substance is severely irritating to the skin (HSDB (Access on January 2016)), it was classified in Category 2. Besides, there is a report that in a test with rabbits, as a result of a 4-hour semi-occlusive application of the product (Trapex 40) containing 40% of this substance, the primary irritation score was 4.2, and a strong corrosive effect was observed (Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science Vol.15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)). In addition, this substance was classified as "Skin. Corr. 1B H314" in EU CLP classification (ECHA CL Inventory (Access on January 2016)).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 2A	Warning	H319	P305+P351+P338 P337+P313 P264 P280	There is a report that in an eye irritation test with rabbits, as a result of an application of 100 mg of this substance, severe inflammation with corneal opacity, and iritis were observed (Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science Vol.15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)). In addition, there is a description that this substance is severely irritating to the eyes (HSDB (Access on January 2016)). From the above, it was classified in Category 2A.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. Besides, there is a report that in a maximization test with guinea pigs, as a result of an application of the product (Trapex 40) containing 40% of this substance, mild sensitization was observed (Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science Vol.15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)). In addition, this substance was classified as "Skin sens. 1 H317" in EU CLP classification (ECHA CL Inventory (Access on January 2016)).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	The substance 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, a micronucleus test with mouse bone marrow cells was positive. As for in vitro, bacterial reverse mutation tests, and a mammalian cell gene mutation test and a sister chromatid exchange test with mammalian cultured cells were negative, chromosomal aberration tests with mammalian cultured cells were positive, chromosomal aberration tests with human lymphocytes were negative (JECDB (Access on November 2015), Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015), Pesticide safety information (Japan Crop Protection Association): Japanese Journal of Pesticide Science vol. 15, No. 2 (Pesticide Science Society of Japan, 1990)).	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	There is no information on carcinogenicity in humans. As for experimental animals, in a combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study in which this substance was administered by drinking water to rats or mice for 2 years, no increase in incidence of tumors associated with the administration of this substance was observed in either rats or mice, and Food Safety Commission evaluated that no carcinogenicity of this substance was observed (Food Safety Commission (2015)). However, there is no information on carcinogenicity in routes other than the oral route, and also there are no classification results by other organizations. Therefore, it was classified as "Classification not possible" for this hazard class.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	There is no information on reproductive effects in humans. As for experimental animals, in a reproductive toxicity test in which rats were dosed by drinking water with this substance for two generations, in the parental animals, decreased pituitary weight in the females at 50 ppm (corresponding to 4.76 mg/kg/day) in F0 generation, and decreased body weight gain in the males at 50 ppm (3.40 mg/kg/day) in F1 were observed, however, there is no abnormality in the pups in either F1 or F2 generation, and no effect on fertility of the parent animals was observed either (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). In addition, in a combined repeated dose toxicity study with the reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test (OECD TG 422) with rats dosed by the oral route, at the high dose of 8 mg/kg/day, although there was no change in mating and gestation results, lactation disorder of maternal animals' neglecting lactation after delivery was observed in 2/12, and in one case, all the pups died. However, because at this dose in both males and females, no symptoms except for transient salivation after administration occurred, and autopsy results also showed only thickening and edema of the forestomach mucosa (JECDB (Access on January 2016)), it is unlikely that it is a dose where severe toxicity findings as a whole were caused. On the other hand, in developmental toxicity tests (rats: 2 strains in 2 tests, rabbits: 2 strains in 3 tests) in which pregnant rats or pregnant rabbits were dosed by gavage during organogenesis period (rats: gestational day 6-15, rabbits: gestational day 6-18 or 7-19), in rats, at doses (5-30 mg/kg/day) equal to or higher than the dose at which decreased body weight gain was observed in maternal animals, minor developmental effects such as low body weight, reduced crown-rump length and delayed ossification were observed in the fetuses. In rabbits, at doses (3-10 mg/kg/day) where maternal toxicity (death, decreased body weight gain, decreased food consumption) was manifested, low body weight and reduced crown-rump length were observed in the fetuses, but in one of the three tests (the strain (chinchilla rabbits) different from that of the other two tests (NZW)), no adverse effect was shown in the fetuses (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). From the above, developmental toxicity effects by administration to pregnant animals were only minor effects considered to be outside the scope of the evidence for classification in both rats and rabbits. On the other hand, in a two-generation reproductive toxicity study with rats, it is concluded that there is no effect on fertility of parent animals (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). However, since the general toxic effects (decreased pituitary weight (F0 female), decreased body weight gain (F1 male)) of the parental animals in the high dose group are mild or of poor toxicological significance, it is conceivable that the doses to the parental animals (equivalent to 3.40-4.76 mg/kg/day) were insufficient to conclude reproductive toxicity effect assessment. In addition, at the high dose of 8 mg/kg/day, poor lactation after delivery was observed in 2/12 of maternal animals, authors of the original literature regarded this as a reproductive effect (reported as NOEL = 2mg/kg/day), but there was no effect on fertility because pregnancy was established in all of the females, there was no case of a difficult delivery (JECDB (Access on January 2016)), and the cause of poor lactation after delivery is unknown, and the relationship to administration of this substance cannot be also said to be clear. Therefore, it was classified as "Classification not possible" due to lack of data for fertility assessment for this hazard class.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 1 (central nervous system), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation)	Danger Warning	H370 H335	P308+P311 P260 P264 P270 P321 P405 P501 P304+P340 P403+P233 P261 P271 P312	This substance is severely irritating to the mucosa (HSDB (Access on January 2016)). In humans, there is a report of convulsive seizure, coma, cardiorespiratory arrest in the case of one adult who ingested 50 g of this substance (HSDB (Access on January 2016)). As for experimental animals, hyperreflexia, prone position, irregular respiration, piloerection, tremor, convulsions, dyspnea, sedation, gait ataxia, incomplete paralysis and spasm in oral administration to rats and mice (corresponding to Category 1), tremor, staggering gait, sedation and dyspnea in dermal application to rats (corresponding to Category 1) and hyperactivity, dyspnea, hypoactivity and convulsions in inhalation exposure to rats (corresponding to Category 2) were reported (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015), JECDB (Access on November 2015)). From the above, this substance is irritating to the respiratory tract and has effects on the central nervous system, and it was classified in Category 1 (central nervous system), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation). The data from the information source listed in List 3, which was used in the previous classification, was not used.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (liver)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	As for experimental animals, in a 90-day toxicity test with mice dosed by gavage, in the group of 5 mg/kg/day within the range of Category 1, hepatocellular fatty degeneration and an abnormality of spermatogenesis in the testes, etc. in males and hepatic haemorrhage, etc. in females were observed (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). In a 90-day toxicity test with dogs dosed by gavage, in females and males of the group of 2 mg/kg/day within the range of Category 1, hepatocellular vacuolation and fatty degeneration in the periportal area, etc. were observed, and in a one-year toxicity test with dogs dosed by gavage, at 2 mg/kg/day, which is within the range of Category 1, increases in absolute and relative liver weight, and hepatocellular fatty degeneration in the periportal area were observed (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). In addition, in a 2-year combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study with mice dosed by drinking water, at 200 ppm (male: 25.7 mg/kg/day), which is within the range of Category 2, a decrease in the erythrocyte count, increased reticulocytes, an increase in the absolute and relative spleen weight, etc. were observed (Risk Assessment Report (Pesticides) (Food Safety Commission of Japan, 2015)). From the above, effects on the liver and testes in the range of Category 1 and effects on the haemal system in the range of Category 2 were observed. As for the abnormality of spermatogenesis seen in the 90-day test with mice, because it was not observed at the same dose in a similar 90-day study with mice which is one of a series of tests, and it was not observed either in the 2-year combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study with mice, it was not adopted. In addition, also as for effect on the haemal system, since it was seen only in the males in one of the two-year tests with mice, it was not adopted as an effect. Therefore, it was classified in Category 1 (liver). Besides, since the information from RTECS which is listed in List 3 was not used, the classification result was different from the previous one.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
10	Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))

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	From 48-hour EC50 = 0.12 mg/L for crustacea (Daphnia magna), and 96-hour LC50 = 0.12 mg/L for fish (Oryzias latipes) (both Results of Aquatic Toxicity Tests of Chemicals conducted by Ministry of the Environment in Japan (Ministry of the Environment, 2003)), it was classified in Category 1.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	Category 1	Warning	H410	P273 P391 P501	If chronic toxicity data are used, then it is classified in Category 1 due to being not rapidly degradable (non-biodegradable, a degradation rate by 28-day BOD = 0% (Official Bulletin of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2003)), and 72-hour NOEC = 0.027 mg/L and for algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) (Results of Aquatic Toxicity Tests of Chemicals conducted by Ministry of the Environment in Japan (Ministry of the Environment, 2003)). If acute toxicity data are used for a trophic level for which chronic toxicity data are not obtained, then it is classified in Category 1 due to being not rapidly degradable, 48-hour EC50 = 0.12 mg/L for crustacea (Daphnia magna), and 96-hour LC50 = 0.12 mg/L for fish (Oryzias latipes) (both Results of Aquatic Toxicity Tests of Chemicals conducted by Ministry of the Environment in Japan (Ministry of the Environment, 2003)). From the above results, it was classified in Category 1.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available.	FY2015	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1))

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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