RTK Labeling
(Right To Know Labeling):
Classifying Health Hazards
RTK Labeling Home Page
Both Right-To-Know
labels and Material Safety Data Sheets must contain information
on a chemical's health hazard. The following information is
from the OHSA Health Hazard Definitions page at their web site.
Chemicals which meet any of the following definitions are considered
health hazards.
1.
Carcinogen - A chemical is considered to be a
carcinogen if (a) It has been evaluated by the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC), and found to be a carcinogen or potential
carcinogen; or (b) It is listed as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen
in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology
Program (NTP) (latest edition); or (c) It is regulated by OSHA as
a carcinogen.
2.
Corrosive- A chemical that causes visible destruction
of, or irreversible alterations in, living tissue by chemical action
at the site of contact. For example, a chemical is considered to
be corrosive if, when tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits
by the method described by the U.S. Department of Transportation
in appendix A to 49 CFR part 173, it destroys or changes irreversibly
the structure of the tissue at the site of contact following an
exposure period of four hours. This term shall not refer to action
on inanimate surfaces.
3. Highly toxic - A chemical falling within any of the following
categories:
(a) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD(50)) of 50 milligrams
or less per kilogram of body weight when administered orally to
albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
(b) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD(50)) of 200 milligrams
or less per kilogram of body weight when administered by continuous
contact for 24 hours (or less if death occurs within 24 hours) with
the bare skin of albino rabbits weighing between two and three kilograms
each.
(c) A chemical that has a median lethal concentration (LC(50))
in air of 200 parts per million by volume or less of gas or vapor,
or 2 milligrams per liter or less of mist, fume, or dust, when administered
by continuous inhalation for one hour (or less if death occurs within
one hour) to albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
4.
Irritant - A chemical, which is not corrosive, but which
causes a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical
action at the site of contact. A chemical is a skin irritant if,
when tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits by the methods
of 16 CFR 1500.41 for four hours exposure or by other appropriate
techniques, it results in an empirical score of five or more. A
chemical is an eye irritant if so determined under the procedure
listed in 16 CFR 1500.42 or other appropriate techniques.
5.
Sensitizer - A chemical that causes a substantial proportion
of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction in
normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical.
6. Toxic - A chemical falling within any of the following
categories:
(a) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD(50)) of more than
50 milligrams per kilogram but not more than 500 milligrams per
kilogram of body weight when administered orally to albino rats
weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
(b) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD(50)) of more than
200 milligrams per kilogram but not more than 1,000 milligrams per
kilogram of body weight when administered by continuous contact
for 24 hours (or less if death occurs within 24 hours) with the
bare skin of albino rabbits weighing between two and three kilograms
each.
(c) A chemical that has a median lethal concentration (LC(50))
in air of more than 200 parts per million but not more than 2,000
parts per million by volume of gas or vapor, or more than two milligrams
per liter but not more than 20 milligrams per liter of mist, fume,
or dust, when administered by continuous inhalation for one hour
(or less if death occurs within one hour) to albino rats weighing
between 200 and 300 grams each.
Related
links
OSHA
HazCom Standard {HCS 1910.1200}
OSHA
Health Hazard Definitions
Free Guide to the NFPA Diamond
This guide
is intended for general information purposes only. This guide
is not a substitute for review of applicable government regulations
and standards. |
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