Hazard statements form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling
of Chemicals. 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: an identification of the product;
one or more hazard pictograms a signal word – either DANGER or WARNING
– where necessary precautionary statements, indicating how the
product should be handled to minimize risks to the user
the identity of the supplier 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 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
H220: Extremely flammable gas H221: Flammable gas
H222: Extremely flammable aerosol H223: Flammable aerosol
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; oxidizer H280: Contains gas under pressure; may explode
if heated H281: Contains refrigerated gas; may cause
cryogenic burns or injury H290: May be corrosive to metals
Health hazards H300: Fatal if swallowed
H301: Toxic if swallowed H302: Harmful if swallowed
H303: May be harmful if swallowed H304: May be fatal if swallowed and enters
airways H305: May be harmful if swallowed and enters
airways H310: Fatal in contact with skin
H311: Toxic in contact with skin H312: Harmful in contact with skin
H313: May be harmful in contact with skin H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H315: Causes skin 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 H351: Suspected of causing cancer
H360: May damage fertility or the unborn child H361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the
unborn child H361d: 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
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 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 will continue to be used in parallel until 2016. 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
EUH001: Explosive when dry EUH006: Explosive with or without contact
with air 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
Environmental properties EUH059: Hazardous to the ozone layer, superseded
by GHS Class 5.1 in the first adaptation to technical progress of CLP.
Other EU hazard statements Some other hazard statements intended for
use in very specific circumstances have also been retained under the CLP Regulation. Note
that, 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. EUH207: Warning! Contains cadmium. Dangerous
fumes are formed during use. See information supplied by the manufacturer. Comply with
the safety instructions. EUH208: Contains .
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. EUH401: To avoid risks to human health and
the environment, comply with the instructions for use.
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:
Ecotoxicity to soil environment Ecotoxicity to terrestrial vertebrates
Ecotoxicity to terrestrial invertebrates 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 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
References Globally Harmonized System of Classification
and Labelling of Chemicals, New York and Geneva: United Nations, 2011, ISBN 978-92-1-117042-9,
STAC.10Rev.2 Globally Harmonized System of Classification
and Labelling of Chemicals, New York and Geneva: United Nations, 2007, ISBN 978-92-1-116957-7,
STAC.10Rev.2 Hazardous Substances Regulations 2001
Hazardous Substances Regulations 2001 Regulation No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of
substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67EEC and 1999EC, and amending
Regulation No 1907/2006, OJCE, 2008-12-31: 1–1355
External links Chemical Hazard & Precautionary Phrases in
23 European Languages