List of R-phrases

Last updated

R-phrases (short for risk phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous substances and preparations. The list was consolidated and republished in Directive 2001/59/EC, [1] where translations into other EU languages may be found.

Contents

These risk phrases are used internationally, not just in Europe, and there is an ongoing effort towards complete international harmonization using the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) which now generally replaces these risk phrases.

Risk phrases

Missing R-numbers indicate phrases that have been deleted or replaced by other phrases.

CodePhrase
R1Explosive when dry
R2Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire, or other sources of ignition
R3Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire, or other sources of ignition
R4Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds
R5Heating may cause an explosion
R6Explosive with or without contact with air
R7May cause fire
R8Contact with combustible material may cause fire
R9Explosive when mixed with combustible material
R10Flammable
R11Highly flammable
R12Extremely flammable
R14Reacts violently with water
R15Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases
R16Explosive when mixed with oxidising substances
R17Spontaneously flammable in air
R18In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture
R19May form explosive peroxides
R20Harmful by inhalation
R21Harmful in contact with skin
R22Harmful if swallowed
R23Toxic by inhalation
R24Toxic in contact with skin
R25Toxic if swallowed
R26Very toxic by inhalation
R27Very toxic in contact with skin
R28Very toxic if swallowed
R29Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
R30Can become highly flammable in use
R31Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
R32Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas
R33Danger of cumulative effects
R34Causes burns
R35Causes severe burns
R36Irritating to eyes
R37Irritating to respiratory system
R38Irritating to skin
R39Danger of very serious irreversible effects
R40Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect
R41Risk of serious damage to eyes
R42May cause sensitisation by inhalation
R43May cause sensitisation by skin contact
R44Risk of explosion if heated under confinement
R45May cause cancer
R46May cause inheritable genetic damage
R48Danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure
R49May cause cancer by inhalation
R50Very toxic to aquatic organisms
R51Toxic to aquatic organisms
R52Harmful to aquatic organisms
R53May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
R54Toxic to flora
R55Toxic to fauna
R56Toxic to soil organisms
R57Toxic to bees
R58May cause long-term adverse effects in the environment
R59Dangerous for the ozone layer
R60May impair fertility
R61May cause harm to the unborn child
R62Possible risk of impaired fertility
R63Possible risk of harm to the unborn child
R64May cause harm to breast-fed babies
R65Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed
R66Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking
R67Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness
R68Possible risk of irreversible effects

Combinations

Code CombinationStatement
R14/15Reacts violently with water, liberating extremely flammable gases
R15/29Contact with water liberates toxic, extremely flammable gases
R14/15/29Reacts violently with water, liberating toxic, extremely flammable gases
R20/21Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin
R20/22Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed
R20/21/22Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R21/22Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed
R23/24Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin
R23/25Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
R23/24/25Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R24/25Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
R26/27Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin
R26/28Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
R26/27/28Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R27/28Very toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
R36/37Irritating to eyes and respiratory system
R36/38Irritating to eyes and skin
R36/37/38Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin
R37/38Irritating to respiratory system and skin
R39/23Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation
R39/24Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin
R39/25Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed
R39/23/24Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
R39/23/25Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
R39/24/25Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
R39/23/24/25Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R39/26Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation
R39/27Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin
R39/28Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed
R39/26/27Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
R39/26/28Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
R39/27/28Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
R39/26/27/28Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R42/43May cause sensitization by inhalation and skin contact
R45/46May cause cancer and heritable genetic damage
R48/20Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation
R48/21Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin
R48/22Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed
R48/20/21Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin
R48/20/22Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed
R48/21/22Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed
R48/20/21/22Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R48/23Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation
R48/24Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin
R48/25Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed
R48/23/24Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin
R48/23/25Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed
R48/24/25Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed
R48/23/24/25Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
R50/53Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
R51/53Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
R52/53Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
R68/20Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation
R68/21Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin
R68/22Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects if swallowed
R68/20/21Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
R68/20/22Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
R68/21/22Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
R68/20/21/22Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R-phrases no longer in use

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safety data sheet</span> Sheet listing work-related hazards

A safety data sheet (SDS), material safety data sheet (MSDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is a document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. SDSs are a widely used system for cataloguing information on chemicals, chemical compounds,chemical mixtures. SDS information may include instructions for the safe use and potential hazards associated with a particular material or product, along with spill-handling procedures. The older MSDS formats could vary from source to source within a country depending on national requirements; however, the newer SDS format is internationally standardized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous goods</span> Solids, liquids, or gases harmful to people, other organisms, property or the environment

Dangerous goods, abbreviated DG, are substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials. An example for dangerous goods is hazardous waste which is waste that has substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.

Risk and Safety Statements, also known as R/S statements, R/S numbers, R/S phrases, and R/S sentences, is a system of hazard codes and phrases for labeling dangerous chemicals and compounds. The R/S statement of a compound consists of a risk part (R) and a safety part (S), each followed by a combination of numbers. Each number corresponds to a phrase. The phrase corresponding to the letter/number combination has the same meaning in different languages—see 'languages' in the menu on the left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Directive 67/548/EEC</span>

The Dangerous Substances Directive was one of the main European Union laws concerning chemical safety, until its full replacement by the new regulation CLP Regulation (2008), starting in 2016. It was made under Article 100 of the Treaty of Rome. By agreement, it is also applicable in the EEA, and compliance with the directive will ensure compliance with the relevant Swiss laws. The Directive ceased to be in force on 31 May 2015 and was repealed by Regulation (EC) 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 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Community number</span> Identifier for substance regulated within EU

The European Community number is a unique seven-digit identifier that was assigned to substances for regulatory purposes within the European Union by the European Commission. The EC Inventory comprises three individual inventories, EINECS, ELINCS and the NLP list.

International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) are data sheets intended to provide essential safety and health information on chemicals in a clear and concise way. The primary aim of the Cards is to promote the safe use of chemicals in the workplace and the main target users are therefore workers and those responsible for occupational safety and health. The ICSC project is a joint venture between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the cooperation of the European Commission (EC). This project began during the 1980s with the objective of developing a product to disseminate the appropriate hazard information on chemicals at the workplace in an understandable and precise way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals</span> International standard managed by the United Nations

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an internationally agreed-upon standard managed by the United Nations that was set up to replace the assortment of hazardous material classification and labelling schemes previously used around the world. Core elements of the GHS include standardized hazard testing criteria, universal warning pictograms, and safety data sheets which provide users of dangerous goods relevant information with consistent organization. The system acts as a complement to the UN numbered system of regulated hazardous material transport. Implementation is managed through the UN Secretariat. Although adoption has taken time, as of 2017, the system has been enacted to significant extents in most major countries of the world. This includes the European Union, which has implemented the United Nations' GHS into EU law as the CLP Regulation, and United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument which states general requirements imposed on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and incident planning. There are also duties on employees to take care of their own exposure to hazardous substances and prohibitions on the import of certain substances into the European Economic Area. The regulations reenacted, with amendments, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Work Regulations 1999 and implement several European Union directives.

The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) was the focal point for the data and assessment procedure on dangerous chemicals within the European Union (EU). The ECB was located in Ispra, Italy, within the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. In 2008 the ECB completed its mandate. Some of its activities were taken over by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); others remained within the Joint Research Centre. The history of the ECB has been published as a JRC technical report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CLP Regulation</span> 2008 European Union regulation about chemicals

The CLP Regulation is a European Union regulation from 2008, which aligns the European Union system of classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures to the Globally Harmonised System (GHS). It is expected to facilitate global trade and the harmonised communication of hazard information of chemicals and to promote regulatory efficiency. It complements the 2006 Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation and replaces an older system contained in the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) and the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous Preparations Directive</span>

The Dangerous Preparations Directive is a European Union directive in the field of occupational safety and health and consumer protection. It complements the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) and replaces a previous Dangerous Preparations Directive (88/379/EEC). The European Court of Justice had ruled in 1985 that Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) applies only to pure substances, not preparations.

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.

Precautionary 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 giving advice about the correct handling of chemical substances and mixtures, which can be translated into different languages. As such, they serve the same purpose as the well-known S-phrases, which they are intended to replace.

Hazard pictograms form part of the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Two sets of pictograms are included within the GHS: one for the labelling of containers and for workplace hazard warnings, and a second for use during the transport of dangerous goods. Either one or the other is chosen, depending on the target audience, but the two are not used together. The two sets of pictograms use the same symbols for the same hazards, although certain symbols are not required for transport pictograms. Transport pictograms come in wider variety of colors and may contain additional information such as a subcategory number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musk xylene</span> Chemical compound

Musk xylene is a synthetic musk fragrance which mimics natural musk. It has been used as a perfume fixative in a wide variety of consumer products, and is still used in some cosmetics and fragrances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reproductive toxicity</span> A hazard associated with chemical substances

Reproductive toxicity refers to the potential risk from a given chemical, physical or biologic agent to adversely affect both male and female fertility as well as offspring development. Reproductive toxicants may adversely affect sexual function, ovarian failure, fertility as well as causing developmental toxicity in the offspring. Lowered effective fertility related to reproductive toxicity relates to both male and female effects alike and is reflected in decreased sperm counts, semen quality and ovarian failure. Infertility is medically defined as a failure of a couple to conceive over the course of one year of unprotected intercourse. As many as 20% of couples experience infertility. Among men, oligospermia is defined as a paucity of viable spermatozoa in the semen, whereas azoospermia refers to the complete absence of viable spermatozoa in the semen.

European hazard symbols for chemicals are pictograms defined by the European Union for labelling chemical packaging and containers. They are standardised currently by the CLP/GHS classification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methyl eugenol</span> Chemical compound

Methyl eugenol (allylveratrol) is a natural chemical compound classified as a phenylpropene, a type of phenylpropanoid. It is the methyl ether of eugenol and is important to insect behavior and pollination. It is found in various essential oils.

Technical Guidance WM2: Hazardous Waste: Interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous waste is a guidance document developed and jointly published by the English Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to provide guidance on the assessment and classification of hazardous waste based on the revised Waste Framework Directive definition of hazardous waste. Waste producers, consultants, contractors and waste management companies use the guidance to a) identify the correct waste code for their waste and b) determine whether the waste is hazardous or not based on its chemical composition.

References