NITE - Chemical Management Field

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	65-85-0
Chemical Name	Benzoic acid
Substance ID	m-nite-65-85-0_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.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
2	Flammable gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
3	Aerosols	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
4	Oxidizing gases	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
5	Gases under pressure	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
6	Flammable liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
7	Flammable solids	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
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.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
9	Pyrophoric liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
10	Pyrophoric solids	Not classified	- -	-	-	It is estimated that it does not ignite at normal temperatures from an autoignition temperature of 570 deg C (ICSC (1999)).	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Test methods applicable to solid (melting point <= 140 deg C) substances are not available.	FY2013	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).	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
13	Oxidizing liquids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Solid (GHS definition)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
14	Oxidizing solids	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	The substance is an organic compound containing oxygen (but not fluorine or chlorine) which is chemically bonded only to carbon or hydrogen.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
15	Organic peroxides	Not classified (Not applicable)	- -	-	-	Organic compounds containing no bivalent -O-O- structure in the molecule.	FY2013	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.	FY2013	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	- -	-	-	There are reports on LD50 values for rats of 1,700 mg/kg (Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances vol. 7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009), SIDS (2004)), 2,530 mg/kg, 2,565 mg/kg (SIDS (2004)), 2,700 mg/kg (JECFA FAS5 (1974)), and 3,040 mg/kg (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2005)). It was classified as "Not classified" to which most data corresponded.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Not classified	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Not classified" based on reports on LD50 values for rabbits of > 2,000 mg/kg, > 5,000 mg/kg (SIDS (2004)), and > 10,000 mg/kg (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2005)).	FY2013	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)	FY2013	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)	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Not classified	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Not classified" based on an LC50 value by 4-hour inhalation exposure of > 12.2 mg/L for rats (SIDS (2004)). Besides, because the LC50 value is higher than the saturated vapour pressure concentration (0.005 mg/L), and it is described that the test was conducted on dust, a reference value in the unit of mg/L was applied.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	It is reported in SIDS (2004) that there was slight irritation or no irritation in tests according to the test guidelines. On the other hand, it is reported that irritation was observed in 18 out of 614 persons in a patch test using ethanol or cream containing 0.05% of this substance, and urticaria was found in 7 out of 32 persons in a patch test using petrolatum containing 0.5% of this substance. Therefore, it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 1	Danger	H318	P305+P351+P338 P280 P310	It was classified in Category 1 because it is reported in SIDS (2004) that it was severely irritating or corrosive in tests according to the test guidelines.	FY2013	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.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	In SIDS (2004), many data are reported suggesting that it was not sensitizing in tests according to the guidelines. On the other hand, as for effects in humans, many reports say that this substance is sensitizing as follows; urticaria was found in 7 out of 32 persons in a patch test using petrolatum containing 0.5% of this substance (SIDS (2004)), in a patch test in which 2,045 patients of dermatological clinics were tested to 5% the sodium salt of this substance, positive reactions were observed only in five (0.2%), and in a patch test in which 5,202 patients having allergy or irritation symptoms to cosmetics were tested to this substance, 34 (0.7%) showed positive reactions (Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances vol. 7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009)). However, because it is concluded in SIDS (2004) that sensitization is scarce in healthy subjects, it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. There are no in vivo data on this substance, and as for in vitro, it was negative in a bacterial reverse mutation test and a chromosomal aberration test with cultured mammalian cells (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2000), JECFA FAS 48 (2002)). However, it is described in SIDS (2004) that this substance and related substances including sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, and benzyl alcohol are not mutagenic or clastogenic.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Because this substance is classified in Group D by EPA (IRIS (1991)), it was classified as "Classification not possible."	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
7	Reproductive toxicity	Category 2	Warning	H361	P308+P313 P201 P202 P280 P405 P501	In a four-generation reproductive toxicity test with rats in the oral route (feeding), no reproductive and developmental toxicity were observed (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2000), Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances vol. 7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009), HSDB (Access on September 2013)). And as for developmental toxicity, it is reported that in developmental toxicity tests with rats in the oral route (gavage), there were increased resorptions (HSDB (Access on September 2013)) or no developmental toxicity was found (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2000), Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances vol. 7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009)), and in a developmental toxicity test with hamsters in the oral route (gavage), increased resorptions and increased malformations were observed (HSDB (Access on September 2013)). Reports that developmental toxicity was found are only from the information source from List 2. Therefore, it was classified in Category 2.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. Besides, it is described that after oral administration to rats, no effects on weight gain were observed at the dose (1,984 mg/kg) within the guidance value range for Category 2 (SIDS (2004)). It is described in CICAD 26 (2000) that diarrhea, muscular weakness, tremors, hyperactivity, and emaciation were found in rats in the oral route (dose unknown). Furthermore, it is described in inhalation exposure (dust) in rats, the animals showed occasional increased motor activity and salivation at the concentration (12.2 mg/L) above the guidance value range but recovered later (SIDS (2004)). In dermal exposure to rabbits, an LD50 of > 2,000 mg/kg is reported, but there is no description of clear toxic signs. From the above results, because there are no findings to assign a category, it was classified as "Classification not possible" due to lack of data.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 2 (upper respiratory tract)	Warning	H373	P260 P314 P501	In oral exposure in rats and dermal exposure in rabbits, no toxicity findings were found even at the doses above the guidance value for Category 2 (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2000), IUCLID (2000)). On the other hand, in a test with rats given 4-week inhalation exposure to the aerosol of this substance, upper respiratory tract inflammation and decreased kidney weights were observed at the concentration (converted guidance value concentration: 0.078 mg/L) within the guidance value range for Category 2 (SIDS (2004), CICAD 26 (2000), IUCLID (2000), HSDB (Access on October 2013)). However, because pathological changes were not accompanied in the kidney, it was judged to be not sufficient to adopt the kidney as the target organ. From the above results, it was classified in Category 2 (upper respiratory tract).	FY2013	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.	FY2013	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)	Category 3	- -	H402	P273 P501	From 96-hour LC50 = 44.6 mg/L for fish (Lepomis macrochirus) (SIDS, 2004), it was classified in Category 3.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Reliable chronic toxicity data were not obtained. It was classified as "Not classified" due to rapid degradability (a 2-week degradation rate by BOD = 85% (Biodegradation and Bioconcentration Results of Existing Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law, 1979)), and a low bioconcentration estimate (LogP = 1.88 (SIDS, 2004)), although it was classified in Category 3 in acute toxicity.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	This substance is not listed in the Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.	FY2013	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.0))

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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