GHS Classification Result

Chemical Name:Formic acid
CAS:64-18-6

Result:
ID: 574
Classifier: Inter-ministerial Committee on GHS
Year Classified: FY2006
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Manual (10 Feb, 2006)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Explosives Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecules.
2 Flammable gases (including chemically unstable gases) Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
3 Aerosols Not applicable - - - - Not aerosol products
4 Oxidizing gases Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
5 Gases under pressure Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
6 Flammable liquids Category 3 Warning H226: Flammable liquid and vapour P303+P361+P353: IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
P370+P378: In case of fire: Use ... for extinction.
P403+P235: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
P210: Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking.
P233: Keep container tightly closed.
P240: Ground/bond container and receiving equipment.
P241: Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/lighting/.../equipment.
P242: Use only non-sparking tools.
P243: Take precautionary measures against static discharge.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
The flash point varies with literature and is stated as 59 degC (o.c.) - 69 degC (measurements unknown). Among those, the lowest value of 59 degC (Open Cup) (Merck (13th, 2001)) was adopted, and it was classified as Category 3 (the acceptance criteria of GHS: flash point is 23 degC or more and, 60 degC or less).
7 Flammable solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
8 Self-reactive substances and mixtures Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups associated with explosive or self-reactive properties present in the molecule.
9 Pyrophoric liquids Not classified - - - - The ignition points is 520 degC - 601.1degC (ICSC (J), (1997), NFPA (13th, 2002), dangerous decibel (the 2nd edition, 1993))
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Not classified - - - - Not classified because of UNRTDG Class: 8, Subsidiary risks Class: 3
12 Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Not applicable - - - - The chemical structure of the substance does not contain metals or metaloids(B, Si, P, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Po, At).
13 Oxidizing liquids Not applicable - - - - Organic compounds containing oxygen (but not chlorine and fluorine) chemically bonded only to carbon and hydrogen (but not to other elements).
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Organic compounds containing no -0-0- structure
16 Corrosive to metals Classification not possible - - - - It is UNRTDG class 8 subsidiary risks 3. Although indicated as corossive to metals (HSDB (2005)) also in literature, since there is no data, it cannot be classified.

HEALTH HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
1 Acute toxicity (Oral) Category 4 Warning H302: Harmful if swallowed P301+P312: IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P330: Rinse mouth.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
It was set as Category 4 based on LD50= 1085mg/kg obtained from the calculation using five data of oral rat LD50 values(DFGOT vol.19 (2003), PATTY (5th, 2001), NTP TR19 (1992)).
1 Acute toxicity (Dermal) Classification not possible - - - - No data available
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) Category 4 Warning H332: Harmful if inhaled P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P261: Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P271: Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P312: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
Since the saturated vapor pressure concentration of this product is 45544ppm, it is thought that each inhalation test was done with vapor. It was classified as Category 4 based on rat LC50 = 3929ppm (7.4 mg/L) (DFGOT vol.19 (2003)).
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists) Classification not possible - - - - No data available
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 1A-1C Danger H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage P301+P330+P331: IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
P303+P361+P353: IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P321: Specific treatment (see ... on this label).
P363: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
It has corrosive damage on human skin(PATTY and (5th, 2001), NTP TR19 (1992), ICSC (J) (1997)), and severe irritation and corrosivity are also observed for animals (DFGOT vol.19 (2003), PATTY (5th, 2001), IUCLID (2000)). These statements and C:R35 of the EU classification were judged collectively, and it was classified as Category 1A-1C.
3 Serious eye damage/eye irritation Category 1 Danger H318: Causes serious eye damage P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
This is a skin corrosive substances (ICSC (J), (1997)), irreversible damages is done to an eye on humans (PATTY (5th, 2001), NTP TR19 (1992)), and a burn, severe stimulus, or corrosiveness to an animal eye (PATTY and (5th, 2001), DFGOT vol.19 (2003), NTP TR19 (1992), RTECS (2004), and IUCLID (2000)). So it was set asCategory 1 based on things.
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available
4 Skin sensitization Classification not possible - - - - No data available
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Classification not possible - - - - It was decided that the substance could not be classified by the technical guidelines. Because there are no data from in vivo tests and the in vitro mutagenicity tests do not show strong positive results in several parameters (DFGOT vol. 19 (2003), PATTY (5th, 2001), NTP TR19 (1992), IUCLID (2000)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - Classification not possible due to lack of data
7 Reproductive toxicity Category 2 Warning H361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child P308+P313: IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.
P201: Obtain special instructions before use.
P202: Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood.
P281: Use personal protective equipment as required.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
Although there was no descriptions on general toxicity of parent animals, based on the report that shows the newborn's survival rate decrease (NTP TR19 (1992)), it is classified into the Category 2.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 1 (blood, liver, kidney, respiratory system) Danger H370: Causes damage to organs (blood, liver, kidney, respiratory system) P307+P311: IF exposed: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P321: Specific treatment (see ... on this label).
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
It was classified into Category 1(blood) based on the descriptions of effects to blood, such as hemolysis and a coagulopathy, in humans (DFGOT vol.19 (2003), PATTY(5th, 2001) vol.5). It was classified into Category 1 (liver, kidney) based on the descriptions of liver dysfunction being indicated in humans (DFGOT vol.19 (2003)) and renal dysfunction (DFGOT vol.19 (2003), PATTY (5th, 2001) vol.5). Due to the descriptions that it affects to respiratory systems, such as pneumonia, breathing difficulty, and bronchitis in human (DFGOT vol.19 (2003), PATTY(5th, 2001) vol.5 and NTP TR19 (1992)), and decreased respiratory functional is described also in guinea pigs, with the dosage range of guidance value of Category 1 (DFGOT vol.19 (2003)). So it was classified into Category 1.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Category 1 (kidney) Danger H372: Cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (kidney) P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P314: Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
In humans, there was the statement that proteinuria and hematuria are seen (NTP TR19 (1992)), and since nephropathy was suggested, it was classified in Category 1 (kidney).
10 Aspiration hazard Classification not possible - - - - No data available

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Symbol Signal word Hazard statement Precautionary statement Rationale for the classification
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Acute) Category 3 - - H402: Harmful to aquatic life P273: Avoid release to the environment.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
It was classified into Category 3 from 48-hour EC50=34.2mg/L of Crustacea (Daphnia magna) (IUCLID, 2000).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) Not classified - - - - Since rapidly degrading (BOD: 110% (existing chemical safety inspections data)), and less bio-accumulative (log Kow=-0.54 (PHYSPROP Database, 2005)).


NOTE:
* Classification was conducted by relevant Japanese Ministries in accordance with GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government, and is intended to provide a reference for preparing GHS labelling and SDS for users.
* This is a provisional English translation of classification results and is subject to revision without notice.
* The responsibility for any resulting GHS labelling and SDS referenced from this site is with users.

Reference:
Reference Manual

Definitions / Abbreviations

Model Label by MHLW

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Model SDS by MHLW

MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)


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