GHS Classification Result (Revision of the past classification result)

Chemical Name:1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane
CAS:79-27-6

Result:
ID: 22B4516
Classifier: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
Year Classified: FY2010
Reference Manual: GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government (July, 2010)

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 molecule.
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 Not classified - - - - Based on the reports that the substance is extremely incombustible, decomposes at 190 degC (Hommel (1996)) and "Practically non-combustible liquid" (GESTIS (Access on Jun. 2009)), etc., it is considered that its flash point is over 93 degC, therefore we considered that it is classified as "Not classified".
7 Flammable solids 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 - - - - Since it is reported that its autoignition temperature is 335 degC (Hommel (1991)), it is considered that the substance does not ignite at room temperature.
10 Pyrophoric solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Classification not possible - - - - No data 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 - - - - Organic compounds containing no oxygen, fluorine or chlorine in the molecule
14 Oxidizing solids Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable - - - - Organic compounds containing no bivalent -O-O- structure in the molecule
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 ...
Based on the rat LD50 values of 924 mg/kg (male) and 925 mg/kg (female) (OECD TG401, GLP-compliant) ("Toxicity Testing Reports of Environmental Chemicals"(Chemicals Investigation Promoting Council) (Access on Jul. 2009)), the substance was classified as Category 4.
1 Acute toxicity (Dermal) Not classified - - - - Based on the rat LD50 value of 5250 mg/kg (ACGIH (2006)), the substance was classified as "Not classified".
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) Not applicable - - - - Liquid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) Category 1 Danger H330: Fatal if inhaled P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P403+P233: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
P260: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P271: Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P284: Wear respiratory protection.
P310: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P320: Specific treatment is urgent (see ... on this label).
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
Based on the rat LC50 value of 0.549 mg/L/4hrs (38.9 ppm/4hrs) (ACGIH (2006)), the substance was classified as Category 1. Since the LC50 value was lower than 90% of the saturated vapor pressure concentration (52.5 ppm) (saturated vapor pressure: 5.32 Pa (ICSC (2004))), the criterion value of gas was adopted. As relevant notes, since several saturated vapor pressure values were reported (0.02 mmHg (Howard (1997)), < 0.01 mmHg (Gangolli, 2nd (1999)) and so on), the substance might be classified as Category 3 using the same LC50 value in case of applying the criterion value for dust/mist.
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists) Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 2 Warning H315: Causes skin irritation P302+P352: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P332+P313: If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P321: Specific treatment (see ... on this label).
P362: Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
In the rabbit tests, open application and washing off within the reasonable period of time caused no skin reaction, and occlusive application by bandage for several hours caused slight erythema, subsequently edema and blister were observed after 24 hours of application (PATTY, 5th (2001)). Thus, the substance was classified as Category 2.
3 Serious eye damage/eye irritation Category 2B - Warning H320: Causes eye irritation P305+P351+P338: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P337+P313: If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
P264: Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
The substance was classified into Category 2B based on the documented case that instillation of the substance to rabbit eye caused pain but only slight irritation of conjunctiva and superficial injury of the cornea (ACGIH (2006)).
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 - - - - The classification was not possible due to lack of in vivo test data. As relevant information, as for in vitro studies, negative results in the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test using CHL cells were reported ("Toxicity Testing Reports of Environmental Chemicals"(Chemicals Investigation Promoting Council) (Access on Jul. 2009)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible - - - - No data were available. As relevant information, it was reported that the tumor prone H2:ICR Swiss mice dermally administered did not show the increase in the incidences of tumors at the site of administration, but the number of papilloma in stomach significantly increased statistically (PATTY, 5th (2001)).
7 Reproductive toxicity Classification not possible - - - - Insufficient data were available. In the oral administration study in neonatal rats for 18 days during the lactation period, no treatment-related changes were observed except for high value of total protein and liver weight ("Toxicity Testing Reports of Environmental Chemicals"(Chemicals Investigation Promoting Council) (Access on Jul. 2009)). However, since there was no other data for reproduction or developmental effect, the classification was not possible.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 2 (central nervous system), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation) Warning H371: May cause damage to organs (central nervous system)
H335: May cause respiratory irritation (respiratory tract irritation)
P309+P311: IF exposed or if you feel unwell: 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.
P405: Store locked up.
P501: Dispose of contents/container to ...
P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P403+P233: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
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.
There was a description stating that the substance (1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane) was central nervous system depressant (PATTY, 5th (2001)). It was reported that a variety of dysfunction of central nervous system was suggested in a person who was acutely exposed to tetrabromoethane by the examinations of positron emission tomography (PET), electroencephalogram and neurobehavioral assessment (HSDB (2005)). While in the acute oral toxicity study (612 - 1400 mg/kg) in rats, as the clinical signs related to the effects on the nervous system, reduced locomotor activity and prone position were observed, and tremors were noted in a few animals ("Toxicity Testing Reports of Environmental Chemicals" (Chemicals Investigation Promoting Council) (Access on Jul. 2009)). And in the inhalation study (3.7 - 4.2 mg/L/2hrs (1.8 - 2.1 mg/L/4hrs)) in rats exposed to aerosols of the substance, excitation followed by lethargy was also reported (PATTY, 5th (2001)). The information on human cases stated above was derived from the "List 2" source designated in the GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government, and the dose levels that clinical signs occurred in rats were equivalent to Category 2. Therefore, the substance was classified as Category 2 (central nervous system). In addition, as the toxic symptoms of substance other than the depressant of central nervous system, irritations to the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract were reported (PATTY, 5th (2001)), and according to ACGIH-TLV, "upper respiratory tract irritation" was proposed as the setting standard for the value (ACGIH-TLV (2005)). Thus, the substance was classified as Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation). Besides, there was a case report stating that a chemist inhaled the substance caused serious liver injury (ACGIH (2006)). However, since the case was only one and an involvement with the other chemicals were not denied, the information was not adopted to classify.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Category 1 (liver), Category 2 (thyroid, lung) Danger
Warning
H372: Cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (liver)
H373: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (thyroid, lung)
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 the 28-day oral dose study in rats, increased liver weight and centrilobular hypertrophy of hepatocytes were observed in both sexes at the dose levels of 20 mg/kg/day (converted dose level as that of 90-day study: 6.2 mg/kg/day) or more, and hypertrophy of follicular epithelial cells in the thyroid gland was observed in both sexes at the dose levels of 60 mg/kg/day (converted dose level as that of 90-day study: 18.7 mg/kg/day) or more ("Toxicity Testing Reports of Environmental Chemicals" (Chemicals Investigation Promoting Council) (Access on Jul. 2009)). In addition, it was reported that the exposures by inhalation (as vapor, 7 hours/day, 5 days/week) to rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice and a monkey for 100 - 106 weeks at 14 ppm (0.20 mg/L (converted concentration as that of 6-hour exposure: 0.22 mg/L)) caused pulmonary edema as well as slight fatty degeneration of the liver in all species (ACGIH (2006)). The dose levels corresponded to Category 1 of the guidance values as for the liver effects and Category 2 as for the effects on the lung and thyroid gland. Thus, the substance was classified as Category 1(liver) and Category 2 (thyroid, lung).
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) Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) Classification not possible - - - - No data available.
12 Hazardous to the ozone layer Classification not possible - - - - This substance is not listed in Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.


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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