NITE - Chemical Management Field

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	6484-52-2
Chemical Name	Ammonium nitrate
Substance ID	m-nite-6484-52-2_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	- -	-	-	There is a chemical group associated with explosive properties (N-O) present in the molecule, but because a pure substance it is classified in Division 5.1, PG III (UN1942) in UNRTDG, it was classified as "Not classified." Besides, one with more than 0.2% combustible impurities is classified in Division 1.1 (UN0222). Blasting explosive, Type B is also classified as explosives (Division 1.1, UN0082).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
2	Flammable gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
3	Aerosols	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
4	Oxidizing gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
5	Gases under pressure	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
6	Flammable liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
7	Flammable solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2013)).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	There is a chemical group associated with explosive properties (N-O) present in the molecule, but because it is classified in Division 5.1, PG III (UN1942) in UNRTDG, it was classified as "Not applicable."	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
9	Pyrophoric liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
10	Pyrophoric solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2013)).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is not combustible (ICSC (2013)).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
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).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
14	Oxidizing solids	Category 3	Warning	H272	P370+P378 P210 P220 P280 P501	It is classified in Division 5.1, PG III (UN1942) in UNRTDG.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
15	Organic peroxides	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	It is an inorganic compound.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to solid substances are not available.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
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)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on reports of LD50 values of 2,000-2,950 mg/kg (OECD TG 401) (SIDS (2007)) and 4,820 mg/kg (ECETOC TR27 (1988)) for rats, it was classified as "Not classified" (Category 5 in UN GHS classification).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on a report of an LD50 value (OECD TG 402) of > 5,000 mg/kg for rats (SIDS (2007)), it was classified as "Not classified." The new information source (SIDS (2009)) was added, and the category was revised.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on a report of an LC50 value (4 hours) of >88.8 mg/L for rats (SIDS (2009)), it was classified as "Not classified." Besides, because the LC50 value was higher than the saturated vapour concentration (0.003 mg/L), the reference value of a mist was applied.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Not classified	- -	-	-	There are multiple reports of skin irritation tests in which this substance was applied to rabbits for 4 hours, and the results were mild irritation or no irritation (SIDS (2009), IUCLID (2000)). From the above results, it was classified as "Not classified" (Category 3 in UN GHS classification). Besides, as for the result of repeated administration, as a result of five 4-hour applications of this substance, scores of erythema and edema were 0.1 and 0 respectively, and the symptoms were reversible (SIDS (2009)). By deleting information outside the List and adding information in SIDS (2009), the category was changed.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 2A	Warning	H319	P305+P351+P338 P337+P313 P264 P280	In an eye irritation test in which 100 mg (purity 99.9%) of this substance was applied to rabbits, corneal opacity, iritis and conjunctival redness were observed and corneal opacity and iritis disappeared in all animals 7 days after application. On the other hand, although conjunctival redness did not disappear at 7 days after application, there was a full recovery after 10 days (ECETOC TR 48 (1992)). Additionally, there is a description that this substance was irritating to human eyes (HSDB (Access on September 2014)). From the above results, it was classified in Category 2A. Based on the description of reversibility, it was sub-categorized.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	As for in vivo, it was negative in a chromosomal aberration test with mouse bone marrow cells (SIDS (2009)). As for in vitro, it was negative in bacterial reverse mutation tests (SIDS (2009), IUCLID (2000), HSDB (Access on September 2014)). From the above, it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available. Besides, IARC overall evaluated the carcinogenicity of ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation in Group 2A (IARC vol. 94 (2010)). In the IARC evaluation, it was described that "There is an active endogenous nitrogen cycle in humans that involves nitrate and nitrite, which are interconvertible in vivo. Nitrosating agents that arise from nitrite under acidic gastric conditions react readily with nitrosatable compounds, especially secondary amines and amides, to generate N-nitroso compounds. These nitrosating conditions are enhanced following ingestion of additional nitrate, nitrite or nitrosatable compounds. Some of the N-nitroso compounds that could be formed in humans under these conditions are known carcinogens." It is described in IARC that there is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of nitrate in food and that of nitrate in drinking water (IARC vol. 94 (2010)). There is no carcinogenic classification by international evaluation organizations other than IARC.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. Besides, there is a report that, in a teratogenicity test with rats by the oral route, no teratogenicity was observed (SIDS (2009)). However, because the details were unknown, it was not used for evaluation in SIDS (2009). Therefore, it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	There are no reports in which the toxic effects of this substance in humans were observed by the inhalation route and the oral route. Additionally, there are no data in experimental animals. Besides, since the previous classification was based on the findings not on this substance but on sodium nitrate, in this classification, data used in the previous classification were not adopted. From the above, since there was insufficient information for judgment, it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (blood system)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	There is a description that, in general, human health concerns about water-soluble nitraten intake include infantile methemoglobinemia as a consequence of nitrite formed by intestinal microbial reduction of nitrate in food and water, and that neonates have an incompletely developed system for methemoglobin reduction and are thus at high risk (ECETOC TR 27 (1988)). And, there is a description that 3 patients who took ammonium nitrate as a diuretic at 10 g/day for 4-5 days developed cyanosis due to methemoglobinemia, and that methemoglobinemia were observed in only 2 out of 268 patients who were treated by administration of ammonium nitrate at 2-9 g/day to prevent renal calculi, and one of the 2 patients was attributed to methemoglobin reductase deficiency (ECETOC TR 27 (1988)). As for experimental animals, although there is a report (SIDS (2009)) that when male rats or guinea pigs were exposed by inhalation to this substance (estimated as the vapour) at 1 mg/m3 for 4 weeks, no hazardous effects on body weight and the respiratory system were observed, but from the converted guidance value (0.0003 mg/L/6 hours), it was a result at a very low concentration corresponding to Category 1, and it was unknown whether any toxicity appeared or not within or lower than the range of Category 2. Additionally, there was no toxicity information on this substance itself. However, regarding the toxicity information on nitrates except ammonium salts, the available findings for classification were obtained. That is, in a test in which rats were dosed with sodium nitrate in the diet for 6 weeks, the abnormal color of the blood and spleen due to methemoglobin was observed at the high concentrations (at or above 100,000 ppm: equivalent to 5,000 mg/kg/day) corresponding to "Not classified" (SIDS (2009)). On the other hand, when rats were dosed with sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite for 14 months at 4,000 mg/L via drinking water, the methemoglobin levels in the blood increased to 1-35% after administration of sodium nitrite while they increased to 0-2% after administration of sodium nitrate (SIDS (2009)). Therefore, it was considered to be a result supporting the hypothesis on humans that methemoglobin level in blood increases due to nitrites produced in the intestinal tract after an oral dose of nitrate (including this substance), which leads to cyanosis (ECETOC TR 27 (1988)). From the above, since there is a risk to cause methemoglobinemia by oral exposure to this substance in humans, especially neonates, it was classified in Category 1 (blood system).	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
10	Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.	FY2014	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))

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)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Classified as "Not classified" from its 96h-LC50 = 420 - 1360 mg NO3/L (542 - 1,756 mg/L as ammonium nitrate) for fish (Chinook salmon, rainbow trout and bluegill) (SIDS, 2007) and 24h-EC50 = 555 mg/L for crustacea (Daphnia magna) (SIDS, 2007).	FY2010	GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government （July, 2010）
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Classified as "Not classified" since it is not non-water soluble (water solubility = 2,000 g/L (SIDS, 2007)) and its acute toxicity is low.	FY2010	GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government （July, 2010）
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	This substance is not listed in Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.	FY2010	GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government （July, 2010）

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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