GHS Classification Result

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Item Information
CAS RN 7487-94-7
Chemical Name Mercury dichloride
Substance ID 23B5579
Classification year (FY) FY2011
Ministry who conducted the classification Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)/Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
New/Revised Revised
Classification result in other fiscal year FY2006  
Download of Excel format Excel file

REFERENCE INFORMATION
Item Information
Guidance used for the classification (External link) Physical Hazards & Health Hazards: GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government (July, 2010) Environmental Hazards: UN GHS Document (4th revised edition)
UN GHS document (External link) UN GHS document
Definitions/Abbreviations (Excel file) Definitions/Abbreviations
Model Label by MHLW (External link) MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)
Model SDS by MHLW (External link) MHLW Website (in Japanese Only)
OECD/eChemPortal (External link) eChemPortal

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Pictogram
Signal word
Hazard statement
(code)
Precautionary statement
(code)
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
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
3 Aerosols Not applicable
-
-
- - Not aerosol products.
4 Oxidizing gases Not applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
5 Gases under pressure Not applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
6 Flammable liquids Not applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
7 Flammable solids Not classified
-
-
- - It is not combustible (ICSC (2003)).
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 applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
10 Pyrophoric solids Not classified
-
-
- - It is not combustible (ICSC (2003)).
11 Self-heating substances and mixtures Not classified
-
-
- - It is not combustible (ICSC (2003)).
12 Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Not classified
-
-
- - The substance contains a metal (Hg), but from water solubility data of 7.4 mg/L (ICSC (2003)), it is estimated that it does not react vigorously with water.
13 Oxidizing liquids Not applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
14 Oxidizing solids Classification not possible
-
-
- - It is an inorganic compound containing chlorine, but the classification is not possible due to no data.
15 Organic peroxides Not applicable
-
-
- - It is an inorganic compound.
16 Corrosive to metals Classification not possible
-
-
- - Test methods applicable to solid substances are not available.

HEALTH HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Pictogram
Signal word
Hazard statement
(code)
Precautionary statement
(code)
Rationale for the classification
1 Acute toxicity (Oral) Category 2


Danger
H300 P301+P310
P264
P270
P321
P330
P405
P501
It was classified in Category 2 based on LD50 values for rats of 25.9-77.7 mg Hg/kg (as mercury dichloride: 35.1-105 mg/kg) (ATSDR (1999)) and 37 mg/kg (JECFA 1155 (2011)).
1 Acute toxicity (Dermal) Classification not possible
-
-
- - Data are lacking. Besides, there is a report on an LD50 value of 41 mg/kg for rats: List 3 data (RTECS (2011)), but the details are unknown.
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) Not applicable
-
-
- - Solid (GHS definition)
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) Classification not possible
-
-
- - No data available.
1 Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists) Classification not possible
-
-
- - No data available.
2 Skin corrosion/irritation Category 2


Warning
H315 P302+P352
P332+P313
P362+P364
P264
P280
P321
It was classified in Category 2 because it is described that this substance is primarily an irritant to the skin and mucous membranes (ATSDR (1999)).
3 Serious eye damage/eye irritation Category 2A


Warning
H319 P305+P351+P338
P337+P313
P264
P280
It was classified in Category 2A because it is described that this substance is primarily an irritant to the mucous membranes (ATSDR (1999)). Besides, it is also described that it is corrosive to the eye (HSDB (2010)).
4 Respiratory sensitization Classification not possible
-
-
- - No data available.
4 Skin sensitization Category 1


Warning
H317 P302+P352
P333+P313
P362+P364
P261
P272
P280
P321
P501
It was classified in Category 1 because the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) classified mercury and its compounds in occupational skin sensitizers Group 1 (Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits Vol. 53 (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2011)). Furthermore, the Japanese Society for Dermatoallergology and Contact Dermatitis also listed this substance as a skin sensitizer (Japanese Society for Dermatoallergology and Contact Dermatitis (2008)).
5 Germ cell mutagenicity Category 2


Warning
H341 P308+P313
P201
P202
P280
P405
P501
It was classified in Category 2 based on a positive result in a chromosomal aberration test with bone marrow after oral administration to mice (in vivo somatic cell mutagenicity test) (DFGMAK Doc.15 (2001), IARC 58 (1993)). Besides, other than this, it was reported to be negative in an in-vivo chromosomal aberration test by intraperitoneal administration to mice (DFGMAK Doc.15 (2001)). Also, it was reported to be weakly positive in multiple dominant lethal tests with mice, but it was not adopted as evidence of the classification because it is described that because of inadequacies of test methods and others, these cannot be considered to provide evidence of a mutagenic effect (DFGMAK Doc.15 (2001)). On the other hand, as for in vitro tests, it was reported to be negative in an Ames test (DFGMAK Doc.15 (2001), NTP DB (Access on Sep. 2011)), but positive results were obtained in multiple in vitro mutagenicity tests: positive in a chromosomal aberration test with CHO cells (IARC 58 (1993)), positive in a chromosomal aberration test and a micronucleus test with human lymphocytes (DFGMAK Doc.15 (2001)).
6 Carcinogenicity Classification not possible
-
-
- - It was classified as "Classification not possible" because metallic mercury and inorganic mercury compounds were classified in Group 3 for carcinogenicity by IARC (IARC 58 (1993)) and A4 by ACGIH (ACGIH (2001)). Also, EPA classified them in C (IRIS (2002)). Besides, in 2-year oral administration tests with rats and mice, there is a report on an increased incidence of squamous cell papillomas of the forestomach and marginally increased incidences of thyroid follicular cell adenomas and carcinomas in male rats, an increased incidence of squamous cell papillomas of the forestomach in female rats, and occurrences of renal tubule tumors in male mice, and it was concluded that there was some evidence of carcinogenicity in male rats (NTP TR 408 (1993)).
7 Reproductive toxicity Category 1B


Danger
H360 P308+P313
P201
P202
P280
P405
P501
In a two-generation reproductive test by oral administration to rats, F0 generation showed significant dose-dependent reductions in fertility index and reduced implant efficiency in all groups (JECFA 1155 (2011)), there were slightly decreased implantations and increased non-viable implantations in a test by oral administration to female rats for 60 days before mating (JECFA 1155 (2011)), and when male mice were orally administered for 45 days and mated with control females, mating success was reduced to 0% at the dose where no general toxicity was seen (1.25 mg/kg) (JECFA 1155 (2011)). On the other hand, in humans, it is reported that in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy, a pregnant woman ingested this substance and had a spontaneous abortion after 13 days (ATSDR (1999)). From the above, because adverse reproductive effects were reported at doses without general toxicity, it was classified in Category 1B.
8 Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure Category 1 (kidney, gastrointestinal tract, liver, cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, nervous system)


Danger
H370 P308+P311
P260
P264
P270
P321
P405
P501
It is described that deaths resulting from oral exposure to inorganic mercury were attributed to renal failure, cardiovascular collapse, and severe gastrointestinal damage (CICAD 50 (2003)). There is a report on 18 cases (including nine who died) of human poisoning following oral ingestion of single doses of this substance, and it is reported that the most common findings were gastrointestinal lesions (ranging from mild gastritis to severe necrotizing ulceration of the mucosa) and renal lesions that resulted in renal failure (EHC 118 (1991)). Therefore, it was classified in Category 1 (kidney, gastrointestinal tract). Also, it was classified in Category 1 (cardiovascular system) because it is reported that in a man who ingested mercury chloride in a suicide attempt, an abnormal electrocardiogram was reported, including no P wave, prolongation of the QRS segment, and a high T wave (CICAD 50 (2003)). On the other hand, it was classified in Category 1 (liver) based on case reports of a 35-year-old man who had jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, and an enlarged liver by autopsy from ingestion of mercury chloride, and a 19-month old boy who ingested powdered mercury chloride and showed hepatic enlargement (CICAD 50 (2003)). In the case reports, the 35-year-old man had severe pulmonary edema, and fine rales were detected in the 19-month old boy. Therefore, it was classified in Category 1 (respiratory system). Furthermore, it was classified in Category 1 (nervous system) because blurred vision, diplopia, repeated seizures prior to death, and abscesses on the occipital lobe and cerebellum by autopsy were observed in the 35-year-old man (ATSDR (1999)), and irritability, fretfulness, sleeplessness, etc. were reported in infants who were exposed to diapers rinsed in a mercury chloride-containing solution (CICAD 50 (2003)). From the above, it was classified in Category 1 (kidney, gastrointestinal tract, liver, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system) for this hazard class.
9 Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure Category 1 (nervous system, kidney, respiratory organs, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract)


Danger
H372 P260
P264
P270
P314
P501
It is described that the major target organs of toxicity induced by metallic mercury or inorganic mercury compounds are the kidney and central nervous system, and at high exposure levels, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects also occur (ATSDR (1999)). As for the nervous system, it is reported that occupational exposure results in erethism, a fine tremor develops in the hands with continuing exposure, and decreased nerve conduction velocity in mercury-exposed workers has been demonstrated (EHC (J) 118 (1997)). As for the kidney, the kidney is the critical organ following the ingestion of inorganic divalent mercury salts, and there is a report of developing nephritis due to occupational exposure (EHC (J) 118 (1997)). As for animal tests, it is reported that increased severity of chronic nephropathy was seen after 26-week repeated oral administration of this substance to rats (doses: 1.25-5 mg/kg/day), and cytoplasmic vacuolation of the renal tubule epithelial cells was observed for mice (doses: 5-20 mg/kg/day) (NTP TR 408 (1993)). Also, it is described that deaths resulting from oral exposure to inorganic mercury were attributed to renal failure, cardiovascular collapse, and severe gastrointestinal damage (CICAD 50 (2003)), and exposure to this substance caused ulcerative gastroenteritis (EHC (J) 118 (1997)). From the above, it was classified in Category 1 (nervous system, kidney, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract) for this hazard class.
10 Aspiration hazard Classification not possible
-
-
- - No data available.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Hazard class Classification Pictogram
Signal word
Hazard statement
(code)
Precautionary statement
(code)
Rationale for the classification
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Acute) Category 1


Warning
H400 P273
P391
P501
It was classified in Category 1 from 48-hour LC50 = 1.8-4.3 microg/L (a converted value equivalent to mercury dichloride: 2.4-5.8 microg/L) for crustacea (Daphnia magna) (EHC86, 1989).
11 Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) Category 1


Warning
H410 P273
P391
P501
It was classified in Category 1 due to the unknown behavior of the metal in water and 21-day NOEC = 0.003 mg/L for crustacea (Daphnia magna) (AQUIRE, 2012).
12 Hazardous to the ozone layer Classification not possible
-
-
- - This substance is not listed in the Annexes to the Montreal Protocol.


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.

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