GHS Classification Result

Chemical Name：valeric acid
CAS：109-52-4

Result：
ID: 20A2096
Classifier: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare （MHLW）, Ministry of the Environment （MOE）
Year Classified: FY2008
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government （Sep, 2008）

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 4 - Warning H227: Combustible liquid 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.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Its flash point is 86degC (ICSC (J) (2002)), which is above 60degC and less than 93degC.
7 Flammable solid Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
8 Self-reactive substances and mixtures Not applicable - - - - There are no chemical groups present in the molecule associated with explosive or self-reactive properties.
9 Pyrophoric liquids Not classified - - - - Its autoignition point is 400degC (NFPA (13th, 2006)), which is above 70degC.
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Classification not possible - - - - Test methods applicable to liquid substances are not available.
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 metalloids (B, Si, P, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Po, At).
13 Oxidizing liquids Not applicable - - - - The substance contains oxygen (but not fluorine or chlorine) which is chemically bonded only to carbon or hydrogen.
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Organic compounds containing no bivalent -O-O- structure
16 Corrosive to metals Classification not possible - - - - No data available.

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 ... 		Since its LD50 = 1844 mg/kg (JECFA (1997)) and 1055 mg/kg (PATTY (5th, 2001) vol.5) for rats, the substance was classified into Category 4.
1 Acute toxicity （Dermal） Category 3 Danger H311: Toxic in contact with skin P302+P352: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P312: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P322: Specific treatment （see ... on this label）.
P361: Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing.
P363: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ... 		Since its LD50 = 660 mg/kg and 290 mg/kg (PATTY (5th, 2001) vol.5) for rabbits, the substance was classified into Category 3.
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Gases） Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Vapours） Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
1 Acute toxicity （Inhalation: Dusts and mists） 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 its LC50 = 4.1 mg/L/2h (2.1 mg/L/4h) for mice (PATTY (5th, 2001) vol.5), which is above its saturated vapour pressure concentration, the test was considered to be conducted in mists, thus, the substance was classified into Category 4.
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 1 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 ... 		Since there is a description that, valeric acid is a strong skin irritant in undiluted form (PATTY (5th, 2001)), and valeric acid is rated iC; R34 by EU (EU-AnnexI (accessed August 2008)), the substance was classified into Category 1. As relevant information, it is reported that using mixed isomers of valeric acid demonstrated some tissue necrosis in a 24h rabbit skin irritation assay (PATTY (5th, 2001)).
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. 		In an eye irritation test using rabbits, on a scale of 1 to 10, the substance scored 8 (out of a maximum of 10) (HSDB (2006)), and it showed corrosion to skin. Thus, the substance was classified into Category 1.
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 - - - - Since there is no available in vivo test data, classification is not possible. As relevant information, valeric acid was not mutagenic in the in vitro CHO/HGPRT forward mutation assay, and when valeric acid was tested for chromosomal aberrations in vitro using the CHO cell line, increases in aberrations were recorded (PATTY (5th, 2001)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - It is reported that an 80-week dermal skin-painting study was conducted with C3H/HeJ mice, and that 50 mg/kg of valeric acid was applied daily. Because of toxicity noted on day 4, doses were reduced to 25 mg/kg, but despite the dose reduction, survival rate reduced substantially, and skin tumors appeared including squamous cell cancer, fibrosarcoma, and fibroma (PATTY (5th, 2001)). Additionally, in a test in which rats were fed a diet containing the substance at 5% concentration, the papillomatous growths in the forestomach was reported (JECFA (1997)). However, both tests used only a single dose, and the transdermal administration test had a problem in that administration doses were inappropriately changed during the test. The rat feeding administration test was performed many years ago (1953), and has no description of such information as the number of animals used or comparison with the control group. Thus, classification is not possible due to lack of data.
7 Reproductive toxicity Classification not possible - - - - In tests in which the substance was orally administered to rats during the organogenetic period, no fetotoxicity or effects on development were observed, and no evidence of a teratogenic effect was reported (PATTY (5th, 2001), JECFA (1997)). However, available data on the sexual functions and fertility of parental animals affected by exposure to the substance prior to mating is insufficient, so classification is not possible.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Classification not possible - - - - It is reported that oral administration of the substance did not result in comas in rabbits (PATTY (5th, 2001)), but that intravenous administration of 0.7 or 1.35 g/kg causes moderate CNS depression (PATTY (5th, 2001)). However, since the former test lacks detailed description including doses administered, and the latter provides only intravenous administration data, neither of the results cannot be applied to classification.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Classification not possible - - - - In a test using rabbits that were transdermally administered with 500 mg/kg/day (90-day conversion: approximately 77 my/kg/day) for two weeks, one died after showing hypopnea and hyperponesis. However, the main finding of the test was severely worsened dermal signs, such as edema, necrosis, and crust. As for systematic toxicity, none except for transient body weight reduction was reported. Accordingly, classification is not possible based only on these data. No other data which can be used as basis for classification has been found.
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 ... 		Since its 48h-LC50 = 48 mg/L for crustaceans (Daphnia magna) (HSDB, 2006), the substance was classified into Category 3.
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment （Long-term） Not classified - - - - Its preexisting classification for acute toxicity is Category 3, it is rapidly degradable (BOD degradability = 87% (HSDB, 2006)), and its potential for bioconcentration is estimated to be low (LogPow = 1.39 (PHYSPROP Database, 2008)). Thus, the substance was classified into "Not classified".


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

 MHLW Website （in Japanese Only）
Model SDS by MHLW

 MHLW Website （in Japanese Only）

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