GHS Classification Result
GENERAL INFORMATION
REFERENCE INFORMATION
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
NOTE:
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| CAS RN | 1344-48-5 |
| Chemical Name | Mercury(II) sulfide |
| Substance ID | H28-A-064, C-123A |
| Classification year (FY) | FY2016 |
| 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 for the Japanese Government (FY2013 revised edition (Ver. 1.1)) |
| 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 |
| 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 (GESTIS (Access on August 2016)). |
| 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 (GESTIS (Access on August 2016)). |
| 11 | Self-heating substances and mixtures | Not classified |
- |
- | - | It is not combustible (GESTIS (Access on August 2016)). |
| 12 | Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases | Not classified |
- |
- | - | It is estimated that it does not react vigorously with water due to the observation result of being insoluble in water (CICAD 50 (2003)). |
| 13 | Oxidizing liquids | Not applicable |
- |
- | - | Solid (GHS definition). |
| 14 | Oxidizing solids | Not applicable |
- |
- | - | The substance is an inorganic substance not containing oxygen or halogen. |
| 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. |
| Hazard class | Classification |
Pictogram Signal word |
Hazard statement (code) |
Precautionary statement (code) |
Rationale for the classification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acute toxicity (Oral) | Classification not possible |
- |
- | - | Classification not possible due to lack of data. |
| 1 | Acute toxicity (Dermal) | Classification not possible |
- |
- | - | Classification not possible due to lack of data. |
| 1 | Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases) | Not applicable |
- |
- | - | Solid (GHS definition) |
| 1 | Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) | Not applicable |
- |
- | - | Solid (GHS definition) |
| 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 | Category 1A |
 Warning |
H317 |
P302+P352
P333+P313 P362+P364 P261 P272 P280 P321 P501 |
Mercury and its compounds are designated as Group 1 of occupational skin sensitizer in Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits (Japan Society For Occupational Health (JSOH), 2016). In addition, it is described that patch tests in humans show cross-reactivity between various inorganic and organic forms of mercury (CICAD 50 (2003), ATSDR (1999)). Therefore, the substance was classified in Category 1A. |
| 5 | Germ cell mutagenicity | Classification not possible |
- |
- | - | Classification not possible due to lack of data. |
| 6 | Carcinogenicity | Classification not possible |
- |
- | - |
For metallic mercury and inorganic mercury compounds, IARC classified them in Group 3 (IARC 58 (1993)), and ACGIH classified in A4 (ACGIH (7th, 2001)). Therefore, it was classified as "Classification not possible." Besides, there is a history that EPA classified inorganic mercury compounds as Group C (possible human carcinogen) based on the carcinogenicity test data of mercuric chloride (II) (EPA Technology Transfer Network (Access on July 2016)). |
| 7 | Reproductive toxicity | Category 1B |
 Danger |
H360 |
P308+P313
P201 P202 P280 P405 P501 |
No data available for the effects on reproduction of this substance itself. As for reports on the developmental effects of inorganic mercury compounds, as a result of administration of mercury acetate or mercury chloride (II) to pregnant mice or pregnant hamsters by oral or parenteral route (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intravenous administration), increased incidence of malformations (cleft palate, hydrocephalus) and abnormal fetuses (dwarf, edematous fetuses) and increased embryonic resorptions and fetal death, etc. were reported (CICAD 50 (2003)). On the other hand, although intake amount was unspecified, elevated mercury urine levels were observed in two subjects who ingested this substance (ATSDR (1999)). In mice orally given mercury chloride (II) or this substance, mercury levels in the tissues were increased, but the degree of increase was greater with mercury chloride (II) (ATSDR (1999)). From these findings, it is suggested that this substance is absorbed somewhat by oral administration. Therefore, an increase in the occurrence of malformations by this substance can also be sufficiently considered in experimental animals on oral route. Moreover, the Japan Society for Occupational Health classified inorganic mercury including mercury vapor in reproductive toxicants group 2 (equivalent to Category 1B) (Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits (Japan Society For Occupational Health, 2016)). Therefore, based on the findings in laboratory animals and the classification result of the Society of Occupational Health, this substance was classified in Category 1B for this hazard class. |
| 8 | Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure | Category 1 (central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, kidney, gastrointestinal tract) |
Danger |
H370 |
P308+P311
P260 P264 P270 P321 P405 P501 |
This substance is an inorganic mercury compound that is insoluble in water, but there is no data available on single exposure in humans or laboratory animals. Although they were not the data of this substance, it is reported that metallic mercury or other inorganic mercury compounds caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, central nervous system depression, emotional instability/irritability, peripheral neuropathy, gingivitis, stomatosis, vision changes, hearing loss, and renal impairment in humans (unspecified route) (ACGIH (7th, 2001)) and that the cause of death from oral exposure was renal failure, cardiovascular collapse, and severe gastrointestinal disorder, and the most common findings were gastrointestinal lesions and renal failure (CICAD 50 (2003)). In experimental animals, neurophysiological effects, electrophysiological effects and effects on the kidney, and behavior effects were observed in the exposure to metallic mercury or other inorganic mercury compounds (ACGIH (7th, 2001)). From the above, it is considered reasonable to classify this substance based on toxicity information of metallic mercury and other inorganic mercury compounds. Therefore, this substance was classified in Category 1 (central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, kidney, gastrointestinal tract). |
| 9 | Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure | Category 1 (central nervous system, kidney) |
Danger |
H372 |
P260
P264 P270 P314 P501 |
No hazardous findings of repeated exposure to this substance were available either for human or experimental animals. However, as for the findings of repeated exposure to inorganic mercury compounds, in multiple cases of humans who ingested mercury chloride (mainly mercury chloride (II)) (ATSDR (1999)) and in many studies in which mercury chloride (II) was orally administered to rats or mice for 2 weeks to 2 years (CICAD 50 (2003)), the effect on the kidney (renal failure (human), nephropathy, degeneration of renal tubular epithelium, glomerular thickening (rat, mouse)) were observed. From these findings, it was considered that the kidney was the target organ. Moreover, it is reported that central nervous symptoms (excitement, sleeplessness, muscle twitching, etc.) were seen in multiple case reports of humans who ingested medicines containing mercuric chloride, and chronic intoxication cases showed development of dementia and irritability, and at necropsy of a few death cases, a decrease in the weight and volume of the brain and a decrease in the number of neurons in the cerebellum were seen, and accumulation of mercury was confirmed in neurons by electronic microscopy observation (ATSDR (1999)). From the above, it was considered reasonable to conduct GHS classification of this substance by referring to the hazardous findings of inorganic mercury compounds such as mercuric chloride, therefore, this substance was classified in Category 1 (central nervous system, kidney). |
| 10 | Aspiration hazard | Classification not possible |
- |
- | - | Classification not possible due to lack of data. |
| 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 |
- |
- | - | No data available. |
NOTE:
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* A blank or "-" in a cell of classification denotes that the classification of the hazard class was not conducted. * Hazard_statement_and/or_Precautionary_statement will show when hovering the mouse over a code of Hazard_statement_and/or_Precautionary_statement. Hazard_statement_and/or_Precautionary_statement are also provided in the Excel file. * 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. * Codes assigned to each of the hazard statements and codes for each of the precautionary statement are based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in United Nations. |