In this article, we will explore the impact of GHS hazard statements on different aspects of society. From his contributions in the scientific field to his influence on popular culture, GHS hazard statements has left his mark in countless fields. Throughout history, GHS hazard statements has been the object of debate and admiration, generating conflicting opinions and arousing the curiosity of millions of people around the world. In this sense, it is fascinating to analyze how GHS hazard statements has shaped the world we know today, as well as the implications its legacy has for the future. Therefore, this article aims to address the transversal impact that GHS hazard statements has had on society, providing a comprehensive vision of its relevance and significance.
Standardized expressions about the hazards of al substance
Hazard statements form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). They are intended to form a set of standardized phrases about the hazards of chemical substances and mixtures that can be translated into different languages. As such, they serve the same purpose as the well-known R-phrases, which they are intended to replace.
Hazard statements are one of the key elements for the labelling of containers under the GHS, along with:
a signal word – either Danger or Warning – where necessary
precautionary statements, indicating how the product should be handled to minimize risks to the user (as well as to other people and the general environment)
the identity of the supplier (who might be a manufacturer or importer).
Each hazard statement is designated a code, starting with the letter H and followed by three digits. Statements which correspond to related hazards are grouped together by code number, so the numbering is not consecutive. The code is used for reference purposes, for example to help with translations, but it is the actual phrase which should appear on labels and safety data sheets.
Physical hazards
H-phrases Physical Hazards
Code
Phrase
H200
Unstable explosive
H201
Explosive: mass explosion hazard
H202
Explosive: severe projection hazard
H203
Explosive: fire, blast or projection hazard
H204
Fire or projection hazard
H205
May mass explode in fire
H206
Fire, blast or projection hazard: increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced
H207
Fire or projection hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced
H208
Fire hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced
H209
Explosive
H210
Very sensitive
H211
May be sensitive
H220
Extremely flammable gas
H221
Flammable gas
H222
Extremely flammable material
H223
Flammable material
H224
Extremely flammable liquid and vapour
H225
Highly flammable liquid and vapour
H226
Flammable liquid and vapour
H227
Combustible liquid
H228
Flammable solid
H229
Pressurized container: may burst if heated
H230
May react explosively even in the absence of air
H231
May react explosively even in the absence of air at elevated pressure and/or temperature
H240
Heating may cause an explosion
H241
Heating may cause a fire or explosion
H242
Heating may cause a fire
H250
Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air
H251
Self-heating: may catch fire
H252
Self-heating in large quantities: may catch fire
H260
In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously
H261
In contact with water releases flammable gas
H270
May cause or intensify fire: oxidizer
H271
May cause fire or explosion: strong oxidizer
H272
May intensify fire: OXIDISER
H280
Contains gas under pressure: may explode if heated
H281
Contains refrigerated gas: may cause cryogenic burns or injury
H282
Extremely flammable chemical under pressure: May explode if heated
H283
Flammable chemical under pressure: May explode if heated
H284
Chemical under pressure: May explode if heated
H290
May be corrosive to metals
Health hazards
H-phrases Health Hazards
Code
Phrase
H300
Fatal if swallowed
H300+H310
Fatal if swallowed or in contact with skin
H300+H310+H330
Fatal if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled
H300+H330
Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled
H301
Toxic if swallowed
H301+H311
Toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin
H301+H311+H331
Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled
H301+H331
Toxic if swallowed or if inhaled
H302
Harmful if swallowed
H302+H312
Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin
H302+H312+H332
Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled
H302+H332
Harmful if swallowed or inhaled
H303
May be harmful if swallowed
H303+H313
May be harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin
H303+H313+H333
May be harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled
H303+H333
May be harmful if swallowed or if inhaled
H304
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
H305
May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways
H310
Fatal in contact with skin
H310+H330
Fatal in contact with skin or if inhaled
H311
Toxic in contact with skin
H311+H331
Toxic in contact with skin or if inhaled
H312
Harmful in contact with skin
H312+H332
Harmful in contact with skin or if inhaled
H313
May be harmful in contact with skin
H313+H333
May be harmful in contact with skin or if inhaled
H314
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H315
Causes skin irritation
H315+H320
Causes skin and eye irritation
H316
Causes mild skin irritation
H317
May cause an allergic skin reaction
H318
Causes serious eye damage
H319
Causes serious eye irritation
H320
Causes eye irritation
H330
Fatal if inhaled
H331
Toxic if inhaled
H332
Harmful if inhaled
H333
May be harmful if inhaled
H334
May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled
H335
May cause respiratory irritation
H336
May cause drowsiness or dizziness
H340
May cause genetic defects
H341
Suspected of causing genetic defects
H350
May cause cancer
H350i
May cause cancer by inhalation
H351
Suspected of causing cancer
H360
May damage fertility or the unborn child
H360D
May damage the unborn child
H360Df
May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.
H360F
May damage fertility
H360FD
May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child.
H360Fd
May damage fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
H361
Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child
H361d
Suspected of damaging the unborn child
H361f
Suspected of damaging fertility
H361fd
Suspected of damaging fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
H362
May cause harm to breast-fed children
H370
Causes damage to organs
H371
May cause damage to organs
H372
Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
H373
May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
Environmental hazards
H-phrases Environmental Hazards
Code
Phrase
H400
Very toxic to aquatic life
H401
Toxic to aquatic life
H402
Harmful to aquatic life
H410
Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
H411
Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
H412
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects
H413
May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life
H420
Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere
H441
Very toxic to terrestrial invertebrates
Country-specific hazard statements
European Union
The European Union has implemented the GHS through the CLP Regulation. Nevertheless, the older system based on the Dangerous Substances Directive was used in parallel until June 2015. Some R-phrases which do not have simple equivalents under the GHS have been retained under the CLP Regulation: the numbering mirrors the number of the previous R-phrase.
Physical properties
EUH006: Explosive with or without contact with air, deleted in the fourth adaptation to technical progress of CLP.
EUH014: Reacts violently with water
EUH018: In use may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture
EUH019: May form explosive peroxides
EUH044: Risk of explosion if heated under confinement
Health properties
EUH029: Contact with water liberates toxic gas
EUH031: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
EUH032: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas
EUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking
EUH070: Toxic by eye contact
EUH071: Corrosive to the respiratory tract
EUH380: May cause endocrine disruption in humans
EUH381: Suspected of causing endocrine disruption in humans
Environmental properties
EUH059: Hazardous to the ozone layer, superseded by GHS Class 5.1 in the second adaptation to technical progress of CLP.
EUH430: May cause endocrine disruption in the environment
EUH431: Suspected of causing endocrine disruption in the environment
EUH440: Accumulates in the environment and living organisms including in humans
EUH441: Strongly accumulates in the environment and living organisms including in humans
EUH450: Can cause long-lasting and diffuse contamination of water resources
EUH451: Can cause very long-lasting and diffuse contamination of water resources
Other EU hazard statements
Some other hazard statements intended for use in very specific circumstances have also been retained under the CLP Regulation. In this case, the numbering of the EU specific hazard statements can coincide with GHS hazard statements if the "EU" prefix is not included.
EUH201: Contains lead. Should not be used on surfaces liable to be chewed or sucked by children.
EUH201A: Warning! Contains lead.
EUH202: Cyanoacrylate. Danger. Bonds skin and eyes in seconds. Keep out of the reach of children.
EUH203: Contains chromium(VI). May produce an allergic reaction.
EUH204: Contains isocyanates. May produce an allergic reaction.
EUH205: Contains epoxy constituents. May produce an allergic reaction.
EUH206: Warning! Do not use together with other products. May release dangerous gases (chlorine).
EUH207: Warning! Contains cadmium. Dangerous fumes are formed during use. See information supplied by the manufacturer. Comply with the safety instructions.
EUH208: Contains <name of sensitising substance>. May produce an allergic reaction.
EUH209: Can become highly flammable in use.
EUH209A: Can become flammable in use.
EUH210: Safety data sheet available on request.
EUH211: Warning! Hazardous respirable droplets may be formed when sprayed. Do not breathe spray or mist.
EUH401: To avoid risks to human health and the environment, comply with the instructions for use.
Australia
The GHS was adopted in Australia from 1 January 2012 and becomes mandatory in States and Territories that have adopted the harmonised Work Health and Safety laws (other than Victoria and Western Australia) as of 1 January 2017. The National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals includes 12 Australian-specific GHS Hazard Statements, as follows:
Physical hazard statements
AUH001: Explosive without moisture
AUH006: Explosive with or without contact with air
AUH014: Reacts violently with water
AUH018: In use, may form a flammable/explosive vapor-air mixture
AUH019: May form explosive peroxides
AUH044: Risk of explosion if heated under confinement
Human health hazard statements
AUH029: Contact with water liberates toxic gas
AUH031: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
Additional non-GHS hazard statements
AUH032: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas
AUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking
AUH070: Toxic by eye contact
AUH071: Corrosive to the respiratory tract
New Zealand
As of March 2009, the relevant New Zealand regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 do not specify the exact wording required for hazard statements. However, the New Zealand classification system includes three categories of environmental hazard which are not included in the GHS Rev.2:
These are classes 9.2–9.4 respectively of the New Zealand classification scheme, and are divided into subclasses according to the degree of hazard. Substances in subclass 9.2D ("Substances that are slightly harmful in the soil environment") do not require a hazard statement, while substances in the other subclasses require an indication of the general degree of hazard and general type of hazard.
Notes
^The United Nations has published the list of GHS hazard statements in all UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish): it can be found in Annex 3 of GHS Rev.2 for the corresponding language.
^A list of translations into all the European Union official languages can be found in Annex III to the CLP Regulation, on pages 146–91 of the official English-language version for the GHS statements and pages 192–209 for the EU-specific statements.