Acute Toxicity Hazard Level

Evaluate quantitative information on toxicity. Consult the information sources to determine the LD50 for each chemical via the relevant routes of exposure. Determine the acute toxicity hazard level for each substance, classifying each chemical as highly toxic, moderately toxic, slightly toxic, and so forth. For substances that pose inhalation hazards, take note of the threshold limit value time-weighted average (TLV-TWA), short-term exposure limit (STEL), and permissible exposure limit (PEL) values. 

The dangerous properties of acute toxicity, irritation, corrosivity, sensitisation, repeated-dose toxicity and CMR are evaluated in terms of their potential toxic effects to workers, consumers and man exposed indirectly via the environment, based on the use for each stage in the lifecycle of the substance from which exposure can occur. Risk assessment is also required if there are reasonable grounds for concern for potential hazardous properties, e.g., from positive in vitro mutagenicity tests or structural alerts. The risk assessment involves comparing the estimated occupational or consumer exposure levels with the exposure levels at which no adverse effects are anticipated. This may be a quantitative risk assessment, based on the ratio between the two values, or a qualitative evaluation. The principles of human health risk assessment are covered in detail by Illing (a.30) and more briefly in Chapter 7 of (73). 

Humans are susceptible to the acute toxic effects of 1,2-dibromoethane from various routes of exposure. Except for adverse reproductive effects in men after occupational exposure, chronic effects of 1,2-dibromoethane exposure have not been documented in humans. Based on data derived from animal studies, mechanisms of action of 1,2-dibromoethane at a cellular level, toxicokinetics, and genotoxicity tests, there is a potential for certain adverse health effects in humans exposed chronically to low environmental levels of 1,2-dibromoethane that could exist near hazardous waste sites or areas of former agricultural use. 

Acute toxic effects are considered as being threshold effects, i.e., effects for which there are expected to be a threshold of substance concentration below which the effects will not be manifested. For the hazard and risk assessment, it is important to identify those dose levels at which signs of acute toxicity are observed, and the dose level at which acute toxicity is not observed, i.e., to derive a NOAEL for acute toxicity. However, it should be noted that a NOAEL is usually not derived in the classic acute toxicity smdies, partly because of the limitations in smdy design. 

Where information is available on toxic signs of acute toxicity and the dose levels at which these signs occur, then this is useful information that can aid in the hazard and risk assessment for acute toxicity. Equally, dose levels leading to no acute effects can provide useful information. 

Chemical hazard pictorial Several different pictorials are used on labels to indicate the level of a chemical hazard. The most common is the "fire diamond NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) pictorial shown at left. A zero indicates a minimal hazard and a four indicates a severe risk. Special information includes if the chemical reacts with water, OX for an oxidizer, COR ACID for a corrosive acid, and COR ALK for a corrosive base. The "Flealth" hazard level is for acute toxicity only. 

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