What are the classes within the Environmental hazard group?

There are two main environmental hazard classes according to the GHS for classifying chemicals:

• Hazardous to the aquatic environment (acute and chronic).

Acute aquatic toxicity is the natural quality of a substance or a mixture to cause damage to an aquatic organism in a short-term exposure. Each hazardous chemical is classified in one of three categories according to a fish 96 hour LC₅₀, a crustacea species 48 hour EC₅₀ and/or an algal species 72 or 96 hour ErC₅₀ data. Scientists use these particular species, because they can efficiently represent all aquatic organisms.

Chronic aquatic toxicity refers to the potential or actual properties of a substance or a mixture to cause harmful effects to aquatic organisms during exposures throughout the lifecycle of the organism. Each hazardous chemical is assigned to one of four toxicity categories according to acute data and environmental fate data: LC₅₀ (fish) or EC₅₀ (crustacea) or ErC₅₀ (for algae or other aquatic plants) and degradation/bioaccumulation.

Label Elements for Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment

Acute

	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
Symbol	Fish and Tree	No symbol is used	No symbol is used
Signal Word	Warning	No signal word isused	No signal word is used
Hazard Statement	Very toxic toaquatic life	Toxic to aquaticlife	Harmful to aquatic life

 

Chronic

	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3	Category 4
Symbol	Fish and Tree	Fish and Tree	No symbol is used	No symbol is used
Signal Word	Warning	No signal word issued	No signal word is used	No signal word is used
Hazard Statement	Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects	Toxic to aquatic Life with long lasting effects	Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects	May cause long lasting effects to aquatic life

 

• Hazardous to the ozone layer

A substance is classified as Category 1, if it is listed in Annexes of the Montreal Protocol (this protocol presents the substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and it is adjusted and amended by the meetings of the Parties). Likewise, if a mixture contains at least one ingredient classified as hazardous to the ozone layer at a concentration ≥ 0.1%, it is classified in the same category.

Label Elements for Hazardous to the Ozone Layer