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GHS Classification Result

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	542-88-1
Chemical Name	Bis(chloromethyl) ether
Substance ID	25A0055
Classification year (FY)	FY2013
Ministry who conducted the classification	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)/Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
New/Revised	New
Classification result in other fiscal year
Download of Excel format	Excel file

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Item	Information
Guidance used for the classification (External link)	GHS Classification Guidance by the Japanese Government (July, 2013)
UN GHS document (External link)	UN GHS document
Definitions/Abbreviations (Excel file)	Definitions/Abbreviations
Model Label by MHLW (External link)
Model SDS by MHLW (External link)
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	- -	-	-	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 2	Danger	H225	P303+P361+P353 P370+P378 P403+P235 P210 P233 P240 P241 P242 P243 P280 P501	It was classified in Category 2 based on a flash point of <19 deg C (closed cup) (HSDB (Access on October 2013)) and a boiling point of 106 deg C (HSDB (Access on October 2013)).
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	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available.
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 is an organic compound containing chlorine and oxygen (but not fluorine) which are 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 in the molecule.
16	Corrosive to metals	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	No data available.

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	Category 3	Danger	H301	P301+P310 P264 P270 P321 P330 P405 P501	It was classified in Category 3 based on a report on an LD50 value of 278 mg/kg for rats (EHC 201 (1998), ATSDR (1989), CEPA (1993)).
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Category 3	Danger	H311	P302+P352 P361+P364 P280 P312 P321 P405 P501	It was classified in Category 3 based on a report on an LD50 value of 370 mg/kg for rabbits (EHC 201 (1998), ATSDR (1989)).
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Category 1	Danger	H330	P304+P340 P403+P233 P260 P271 P284 P310 P320 P405 P501	It was classified in Category 1 based on a report on an LC50 value (7 hours) of 7 ppm (converted 4-hour equivalent value: 9 ppm) for rats (EHC 201 (1998), ATSDR (1989)). Besides, because the LC50 value is lower than 90% of the saturated vapour pressure concentration (38,645 ppm), a reference value in the unit of ppm was applied as a vapour with little mist.
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
4	Skin sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. As for in vivo, a negative result is reported in a chromosomal aberration test with rat bone marrow cells, but because there is insufficient information, it is impossible to assess this substance to be inactive (IARC 100F (2012), ATSDR (1989)). As for in vitro, there are positive data in a bacterial reverse mutation test (EHC 201 (1998)).
6	Carcinogenicity	Category 1A	Danger	H350	P308+P313 P201 P202 P280 P405 P501	This substance was classified in Category 1A because it is classified in Group 1 by IARC (IARC 100F (2012)), A1 by ACGIH (ACGIH (1987)), A by EPA (IRIS (1991)), K by NTP (NTP RoC (1980)), and Carc. 1A in EU CLP (ESIS (Access on Sept 2013)). Besides, lung cancer due to work involving exposure to this substance is included in Disease designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under the Industrial Safety and Health Act in Japan, and its manufacture is prohibited. Case reports of developing lung cancer in humans are described in IARC 100F (2012). Six developed lung cancer out of 18 workers in a testing laboratory exposed to this substance during 1956-1962, and two cases of lung cancer were found in 50 production workers. Five of these eight cases were small cell cancer, duration of exposure to this substance was 6-9 years, and the period from first exposure to onset was 8–16 years. Furthermore, an increased risk of lung cancer in workers exposed to this substance has been proven in multiple case reports and epidemiological studies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. In the workers heavily exposed to this substance, the relative risk of lung cancer increased ten-fold or more. It is reported that an increase in risk was observed with the duration of exposure and cumulative exposure. The highest relative risks appeared to occur 15–19 years after first exposure, and latency was shortened among workers with heavier exposure.
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (respiratory organs)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	It is described that in a test with mice given 82-day repeated inhalation exposure (6 hours/day, 5 times/week) to 1 ppm (4.7 mg/m3), marked respiratory distress including pulmonary edema was observed (ATSDR (1989)), and in a test with rats and hamsters given 30-day repeated inhalation exposure (6 hours/day) to 1 ppm (4.7 mg/m3), tracheal and bronchial hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia were found (EHC 201 (1998)). Therefore, it was classified in Category 1 (respiratory organs). Besides, in humans, it is reported that repeated inhalation exposure to the vapour of chloromethyl methyl ether containing this substance increased the incidence of chronic bronchitis characterized by chronic cough and impaired respiratory function (ATSDR (1989)).
10	Aspiration hazard	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.

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)	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 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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