NITE - Chemical Management Field

GHS Classification Result

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	79-20-9
Chemical Name	Methyl acetate
Substance ID	H26-B-123, -
Classification year (FY)	FY2014
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)	GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government (FY2013 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	- -	-	-	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 -13 deg C (closed cup) and a boiling point of 57 deg C (ICSC (1997)). Besides, it is classified in Class 3, PG II (UN1231) in UNRTDG.
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	- -	-	-	It is estimated that it does not ignite at normal temperatures from an autoignition temperature of 455 deg C (ICSC (1997)).
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 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 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)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on reports of LD50 values of 4,800 mg/kg (ACGIH (7th, 2013)), >5,000 mg/kg (ACGIH (7th, 2013), Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances Vol.7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)) and 6,482 mg/kg (EU-RAR (2003)) for rats, it was classified as "Not classified."
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Not classified	- -	-	-	Based on reports of an LD50 value of >2,000 mg/kg for rats (EU-RAR (2003), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)) and an LD50 value of >5,000 mg/kg for rabbits (ACGIH (7th, 2013), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)), it was classified as "Not classified."
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	Not applicable	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition)
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. There was a report of an LC50 value (4 hours) of >49 mg/L (16,170 ppm) for rats (EU-RAR (2003), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)). However, since it could not be determined from these data whether LC50 values exceeded the upper limit of 20,000 ppm for Category 4 and it is not possible to identify the category, it was classified as "Classification not possible." Besides, since the LC50 values were lower than 90% of the saturated vapor concentration (2,061,125 ppm), the reference value in units of ppm was applied as a vapour without a mist.
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	Not classified	- -	-	-	In a skin irritation test (OECD TG and EU guideline compliant) in which 0.5 mL of this substance was applied semi-occlusively to rabbits for 4 hours, erythema (grade 1) was observed 1 hour after application but this disappeared completely within 48 hours (EU-RAR (2003)). In addition, there is a report that no irritation was observed after application of this substance to the skin of humans (EU-RAR (2003), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)). From the above results, it was classified as "Not classified."
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	Category 2B	- Warning	H320	P305+P351+P338 P337+P313 P264	There is a report that in a Draize test (OECD TG and EU guideline compliant) in which 0.1 mL of the undiluted liquid of this substance was applied to rabbits, severe irritation was observed in the cornea (mean score at 24, 48 and 72 hours: 1, 1.7, 1.3), iris (mean score: 1, 1, 1), and conjunctival redness (mean score 1.7, 1.7, 2) and edema (mean score: 2.7, 2.3, 3) with discoloration and bleeding were also observed, but symptoms disappeared within 7 days (EU-RAR (2003)). From the above, based on the description of reversibility, it was classified in Category 2B. Besides, this substance was classified in "Xi : R36" in the EU DSD classification, and in "Eye Irrit. 2 H319" in the EU CLP classification.
4	Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
4	Skin sensitization	Not classified	- -	-	-	There is a description that there were no reports of contact allergy due to exposure to this substance in humans, and this substance was unlikely to show sensitization to the skin (EU-RAR (2003)). In addition, this substance is hydrolyzed to methanol and acetic acid in contact with water. There is a report that also in a maximization test with 25 volunteers, no sensitization was observed after application of 10% of this substance (EU-RAR (2003), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)). From the above results, it was classified as "Not classified."
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	This substance was classified as "Classification not possible" because it was not possible to classify a substance as "Not classified" according to the revised GHS classification guidance for the Japanese government. As for in vivo, it was negative in a micronucleus test with rats' bone marrow cells (EU-RAR (2003), ACGIH (7th, 2013)). As for in vitro, it was negative in bacterial reverse mutation tests (ACGIH (7th, 2013), EU-RAR (2003), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002), NTP DB (Access on October 2014), IUCLID (2000)).
6	Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data.
7	Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible	- -	-	-	Classification not possible due to lack of data. Besides, in SIAP (2006), this substance was assessed based on data on the metabolites, methanol and acetic acid. Neither fetotoxicity nor teratogenicity for acetic acid was shown. However, methanol showed embryotoxicity/fetotoxicity and teratogenicity in rodents at high concentrations where maternal toxicity was observed (SIAP (2006)).
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 1 (optic nerve), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation, narcotic effects)	Danger Warning	H370 H335 H336	P308+P311 P260 P264 P270 P321 P405 P501 P304+P340 P403+P233 P261 P271 P312	This substance was irritating to the respiratory tract (Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances Vol.7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009), OEL Documentations (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 1963), EU-RAR (2003), PATTY (6th, 2012), ACGIH (7th, 2001), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)). In humans, by inhalation exposure to the vapour, there were reports of cough, sore throat, tightness of the chest, hypoesthesia, headache, dizziness, lassitude, unsteady gait, narcotic effects, loss of consciousness, somnolence, central nervous system depression, and as for optic nerve disorders, transient loss of binocular vision, bilateral atrophy of the optic nerve, and narrowing of visual field. In addition, by oral ingestion, there were reports of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, convulsions and dyspnea (Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances Vol.7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009), OEL Documentations (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 1963), EU-RAR (2003), PATTY (6th, 2012), ACGIH (7th, 2001), DFGOT vol. 18 (2002)). As for experimental animals, by inhalation exposure of cats to the vapour at 56.1 mg/L, narcotic effects and dyspnea were observed but these subsequently disappeared (ACGIH (7th, 2001)). These findings in cats were observed exceeding the guidance value of Category 2. From the above, this substance was considered to have the optic nerve effects, respiratory tract irritation and narcotic effects, and it was classified in Category 1 (optic nerve), Category 3 (respiratory tract irritation, narcotic effects). Central nervous system depression effects were considered as narcotic effects.
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 1 (optic nerve)	Danger	H372	P260 P264 P270 P314 P501	There is a case report that in workers exposed to the vapour of this substance (exposure conditions (concentration, duration) unknown) in a small room, decreased visual acuity occurred, and bilateral optic nerve atrophy and narrowing of the visual field were observed after initial symptoms such as headaches and dizziness (ACGIH (7th, 2013), Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances Vol.7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009)). There is a description that this substance is degraded to methanol and acetic acid in vivo, and the optic nerve damage was considered effects of the metabolite, methanol (ACGIH (7th, 2013)). Other than these, there is also a description that in a case of inhalation exposure to this substance in the workplace, and in a case of abuse of a solvent containing this substance (such as paint thinner) by inhalation, atrophy of the optic nerve might occur (DFGOT vol. 18 (2002), ACGIH (7th, 2013)). As for experimental animals, in a study in which the nose of rats were exposed to this substance (estimated as the vapour) for 28 days, no effects were observed at up to 350 ppm (1,057 mg/m3 (converted guidance value: 0.33 mg/L/6 hours)), and damages of the respiratory organs (degeneration and necrosis of the olfactory epithelium) were observed at 2,000 ppm (6,040 mg/m3 (converted guidance value: 1.88 mg/L/6 hours)) exceeding the range of Category 2 (EU-RAR (2003), ACGIH (7th, 2013), Environmental Risk Assessment for Chemical Substances Vol.7, Tentative Hazard Assessment Sheet (Ministry of the Environment, 2009)). However, the presence or absence of effects on the respiratory organs at the upper limit of Category 2 was unknown from the results of this study, and these could not be adopted for classification. Other than these, there were no data available for classification in experimental animals. From the above, based on the findings in humans, it was classified in Category 1 (optic nerve). Besides, although it was classified as "Classification not possible" based on the findings in experimental animals in the previous classification, at this time, it was classified based on the findings in humans such as those in ACGIH (7th, 2013).
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)	-	- -	-	-	-
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term)	-	- -	-	-	-
12	Hazardous to the ozone layer	-	- -	-	-	-

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.

To GHS Information