What are the main concerns for each health hazard class?
| Hazard Class | General Description |
|---|---|
| Acute toxicity | These products are fatal, toxic or harmful in inhaled, following skin contact, or if swallowed. Acute toxicity refers to effects occurring following skin contact or ingestion exposure to a single dose, or multiple doses given within 24 hours, or an inhalation exposure of 4 hours. Acute toxicity could result from exposure to the product itself, or to a product that, upon contact with water, release a gaseous substance that is able to cause acute toxicity. |
| Skin corrosion/irritation | This class covers products that cause severe skin burns (i.e., corrosion) and products that cause skin irritation. |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation | This class covers products that cause serious eye damage (i.e., corrosion) and products that cause eye irritation |
| Respiratory or skin sensitization | A respiratory sensitizer is a product that may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled. Skin sensitizer is a product that may cause an allergic skin reaction |
| Germ cell mutagenicity | This hazard class includes products that may cause or are suspected of causing genetic defects (permanent changes (mutations) to body cells that can be passed on to future generations) |
| Carcinogenicity | This hazard class includes products that may cause or are suspected of causing cancer. |
| Reproductive toxicity | This hazard class includes products that may damage or are suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (baby). Note: There is an additional category which includes products that may cause harm to breast-fed children. |
| Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure | This hazard class covers products that cause or may cause damage to organs (e.g., liver, kidneys, or blood) following a single exposure. This class also includes a category for products that cause respiratory irritation or drowsiness or dizziness. |
| Aspiration hazard | This hazard class is for products that may be fetal if they are swallowed and entered the airways. |
| Biohazardous infectious materials | These materials are microorganisms, nucleic acids or proteins that cause or is a probable cause of infection, with or without toxicity, in humans or animals. |
| Health hazards not other classified | This class covers products that are not included in any other health hazard class. These hazards have the characteristic of occurring following acute or repeated exposure and have an adverse effect on the health of a person exposed to it – including an injury or resulting in the death of that person. If a product is classified in this class, the hazard statement will describe the nature of the hazard. |