NITE - Chemical Management Field

GHS Classification Results by the Japanese Government

GENERAL INFORMATION

Item	Information
CAS RN	100-47-0
Chemical Name	Benzonitrile
Substance ID	R01-B-011
Classification year (FY)	FY2019
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	FY2018 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 (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

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Explosives	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
2	Flammable gases	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
3	Aerosols	*	- -	-	-	Not aerosol products. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
4	Oxidizing gases	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
5	Gases under pressure	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
6	Flammable liquids	Category 4	- Warning	H227	P370+P378 P210 P280 P403 P501	It was classified in Category 4 based on a flash point of 75 deg C (closed cup) (ICSC (1999)).
7	Flammable solids	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
8	Self-reactive substances and mixtures	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive or self-reactive properties present in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
9	Pyrophoric liquids	*	- -	-	-	It was classified as "Not classified" because it is estimated that it does not ignite at normal temperatures from an autoignition temperature of 550 deg C (ICSC (1999)).
10	Pyrophoric solids	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
11	Self-heating substances and mixtures	*	- -	-	-	Classification is not possible because test methods applicable to liquid substances are not available.
12	Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases	*	- -	-	-	The chemical structure of the substance does not contain metals or metalloids (B, Si, P, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Po, At). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
13	Oxidizing liquids	*	- -	-	-	Organic compounds containing no oxygen, fluorine or chlorine in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
14	Oxidizing solids	*	- -	-	-	Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
15	Organic peroxides	*	- -	-	-	Organic compounds containing no bivalent -O-O- structure in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
16	Corrosive to metals	*	- -	-	-	No data available.
17	Desensitized explosives	*	- -	-	-	There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule. It was classified as "Not classified."

HEALTH HAZARDS

Hazard class		Classification	Pictogram Signal word	Hazard statement (code)	Precautionary statement (code)	Rationale for the classification
1	Acute toxicity (Oral)	Category 4	Warning	H302	P301+P312 P264 P270 P330 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1) to (4), it was classified in Category 4. [Evidence Data] (1) LD50 for rats: 700 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019)) (2) LD50 for rats: 720 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019)) (3) LD50 for rats: 1,300 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019)) (4) LD50 for rats: 1,500 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019))
1	Acute toxicity (Dermal)	Category 4	Warning	H312	P302+P352 P362+P364 P280 P312 P321 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1) and (2), it was classified in Category 4. [Evidence Data] (1) LD50 for rats: 1,200 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019)) (2) LD50 for rabbits: 1,250 mg/kg (HSDB (Access on May 2019))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Gases)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Liquid (GHS definition). It was classified as "Not classified (Not applicable)."
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours)	Category 3	Danger	H331	P304+P340 P403+P233 P261 P271 P311 P321 P405 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), it was classified in Category 3. Besides, since the LC50 value was higher than 90% of the saturated vapor concentration (1,000 ppm, 4.3 mg/L), the reference values in units of mg/L were applied as a vapour with a mist. [Evidence Data] (1) LC50 (8 hours) for rats: 950 ppm (4 mg/L) (converted 4-hour equivalent value 1,900 ppm (8 mg/L)) (HSDB (Access on May 2019))
1	Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Dusts and mists)	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
2	Skin corrosion/irritation	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1) to (3), it was classified as "Not classified." [Evidence Data] (1) This substance produced mild eye irritation and no skin irritation in rabbits (HSDB (Access on May 2019)). (2) It is reported to be moderately irritating in a skin irritation test (24-hour occlusive application) (HSDB (Access on May 2019)). (3) In a Draize skin irritation test with rabbits, this substance was judged to be slightly irritating and it was concluded that it does not meet the GHS criteria (REACH registration dossier (Access on June 2019)). [Reference Data, etc.] (4) It is reported that extensive reddening and blister formation resulted from accidental exposure to this substance (HSDB (Access on May 2019)).
3	Serious eye damage/eye irritation	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), it was classified as "Not classified." [Evidence Data] (1) In an eye irritation test with rabbits according to FDA Fed.Reg., slight irritation of the conjunctiva was observed, but all this disappeared after 7 days. The mean scores for corneal opacity, the iris, conjunctival redness and conjunctival edema at 24/48/72 hours were 0, 0, 0.8 and 0.1, respectively (REACH registration dossier (Access on June 2019)). [Reference Data, etc.] (2) This substance produced mild eye irritation and no skin irritation in albino rabbits (HSDB (Access on May 2019)).
4	Respiratory sensitization	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
4	Skin sensitization	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data. [Reference Data, etc.] (1) Benzonitrile was tested at a concentration of 2% in petrolatum on the human skin and was found to produce no sensitization reactions after a 48-hour closed patch test (HSDB (Access on May 2019)).
5	Germ cell mutagenicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] According to (1) and (2), based on the weight of evidence, it was classified as "Not classified." [Evidence Data] (1) As for in vivo, it was negative in a micronucleus test with mouse peripheral blood erythrocytes (NTP DB (Access on May 2019), BG Chemie (2000)). (2) As for in vitro, it was negative in a bacterial reverse mutation test and a mouse lymphoma test, but it was positive in a mammalian cell chromosomal aberration test (NITE Toxicity and Eco-toxicity Tests (Access on May 2019), NTP DB (Access on May 2019), BG Chemie (2000)).
6	Carcinogenicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
7	Reproductive toxicity	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] Classification not possible due to lack of data.
8	Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure	Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory organs)	Danger	H370	P308+P311 P260 P264 P270 P321 P405 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Since effects on the central nervous system were observed in a human exposure case described in (1) and in tests with experimental animals as described in (2) and (3), and effects on the respiratory system were observed in the inhalation test in (3) at doses corresponding to Category 1, this substance was classified as Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory organs). The classification result was changed from the previous classification by the use of new information sources. [Evidence Data] (1) Following an occupational accident in which a worker's (1 person) head and clothing were drenched with this substance, the worker suffered severe respiratory distress and tonic convulsions with unconsciousness which lasted for 75 minutes, but he recovered later (BG Chemie (2000), HSDB (Access on May 2019)). (2) In a single oral dose test with rats and mice, labored breathing, somnolence, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, atonia and failure of reflexes were observed. There is no description of the minimum doses at which effects were observed, but if effects were observed near the LD50 values, which were around 690 to 1,500 mg/kg for rats and around 1,080 to 1,242 mg/kg for mice, the doses correspond to Category 2 (BG Chemie (2000)). (3) In an inhalation exposure test with rats and mice, labored breathing, ataxia, prostration, sedation and narcosis were observed. Histopathologically, the rat lungs displayed multifocal areas of lymphoid hyperplasia with foamy macrophage accumulations and the mice showed congestion and edema of the lungs. The 4-hour equivalent exposure concentrations were 3.8 mg/L for rats and 2.7 mg/L for mice, which correspond to Category 1 (BG Chemie (2000), HSDB (Access on May 2019)). (4) It is described that the vapor of this substance is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat (HSDB (Access on May 2019)).
9	Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure	Category 2 (central nervous system)	Warning	H373	P260 P314 P501	[Rationale for the Classification] Based on (1), since lower cholinesterase activity and neurological symptoms were observed within the range of Category 2 after oral administration to rats, this substance was classified in Category 2 (central nervous system). Besides, the target organs were changed from the previous classification, because it was impossible to confirm the data of IUCLID and RTECS, which were used as rationale information, and the classification was revised by using the new information sources. [Evidence Data] (1) As a result of oral administration at 4-100 mg/kg to rats for 28 days, lower cholinesterase activity, increased grooming, restlessness, etc. were observed at 100 mg/kg (converted guidance value: 31 mg/kg, within the range of Category 2) (NITE Toxicity and Eco-toxicity Tests (Access on May 2019)). [Reference Data, etc.] (2) It is reported that in an inhalation exposure test with rats exposed to the vapor of this substance at 0.07 mg/L (converted guidance value: 0.07 mg/L, within the range of Category 1) for 4 to 5 months (4 hours/day, 5 days/week), effects on the central nervous system, liver function and blood chemistry as well as changes in tissue-oxidizing processes were observed (HSDB (Access on May 2019)). However, regarding the results of a test considered to be the same as the above one, BG Chemie describes that leukocyte counts, hippuric acid excretion and cytochrome oxidase activities in the liver, kidney and heart were increased, but it is also described that insufficient documentation of the test renders it unsuitable for the assessment of the systemic toxicity of this substance (BG Chemie (2000)).
10	Aspiration hazard	*	- -	-	-	[Rationale for the Classification] 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 Short term (Acute)	-	- -	-	-	-
11	Hazardous to the aquatic environment Long term (Chronic)	-	- -	-	-	-
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.
An asterisk “*” in the column of “Classification” denotes that “Not classified (or No applicable)” and/or “Classification not possible” is applicable. Details are described in the column of “Rationale for the classification”. If no English translation is available for “Rationale for the classification,” please refer to the Japanese version of the results.

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