R Phrases

All chemical substances have to be evaluated to decide if they are classified as dangerous according to the requirements of the DSD. These dangerous properties are communicated to the user by standardised labelling, which consists of a dangerous symbol, information on hazardous properties (risk, R phrases) and advice on safety (S phrases). 

R-phrases R61-20/22-33-50/53-62, S-phrases S53-45-60-61 Zinc chromate, zinc potassium chromate, zinc tetraoxichromate T, Toxic (skull and cross bone)... 

R phrases Risk phrases describing the danger (e.g., R25, toxic if swallowed)... 

A result of the risk assessments was that DEHP, DBP and BBP are toxic for reproduction. Accordingly, they were classified as CMR (carcinogen, mutagen, reprotoxic) substances, category 2 which is reflected in the classification and labelling with R-phrases 60-62 (Tables 12, 13). 

A list of phrases that specify the hazard, called R-phrases or risk phrases, is also used. For example, R22 = harmful if swallowed R28 = very toxic when swallowed and R62 = possible risk of impaired fertility. 

For development of preventive measures for work-related reproductive health disorders, pathology of a fetus and newborn, it is expedient to examine a degree of hazard for health depending on character of action of chemical substances because they can produce the gonadotropic and embriotropic effects, etc. Thus it is necessary to take into account standard indices or so-called phrases of risk (R-phrase) for chemical substances (EU Directive 92/32/EEC). To mark the chemicals with specific kind of action in European Union they apply the R-phrases for classification. Such designation of chemical substances helps to receive information on reproductive risks for the substances used on workplaces. 

As we mentioned in the previous chapter, its approach used a codification system (Risk Phrases) that was based on toxicological evidence of harm arising from exposure to substances. Criteria for codification were set out in Annex VI to the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) as amended by its Seventh Amendment (92/32/EEC). Annex I to the Dangerous Substances Directive included risk phrases (R-phrases) for all substances with an agreed hazard classification in the EU. This information was reproduced in the UK in the Approved Classification and Labelling Guide (Third Ed.) whilst specific substances and their R-phrases were listed in the Approved Supply List. If any substance supplied to a workplace within the European Community was not listed in Annex I to the Directive, the supplier was required to consider whether a hazard classification was appropriate and if so, based on the classification criteria, apply the appropriate R-phrases as well as other information. 

Amongst other things then, CHIP required that suppliers classified the substances they supplied according to the extent of hazard they represented to human health. It required they used the R-phrase rating system to do so and that suppliers state the appropriate R-phrase on the Safety Data Sheets they were obliged to provide when supplying chemicals or preparations for use at work. These measures were to be of considerable significance in relation to the future policy expectations... 

The further advantage they identified in using such R-phrases was that they were based on the classification system required at EU level and would in time be harmonised across the whole of the EU member states. 

These 15 dangerous properties constitute the major dangers of substances or preparations, and are described in detail by using prescribed R-phrases. 

The classification of substances or preparations means the assignment to one of the 15 dangerous properties. It is expressed precisely in the R-phrases. 

Substances which have lethal effects in very low amounts or can lead to very severe diseases are regarded as very toxic. For labeling very toxic substances and preparations, the relevant R-phrases, the skull-and-crossbones danger symbol, T+ , and the indication of danger very toxic are used. The scientific criteria for the classification are summarized in Table 3.1. 

The following R-phrases have to be used in order to express the application route ... 

Substances which lead to a very severe, non-lethal health effect on acute administration in the doses mentioned in Table 3.1 are also classified as very toxic. To distinguish these effects from lethal effects, they are classified with the R-phrase R39/. 

Substances which have fatal effects or cause severe health problems in low doses are classified as toxic. Toxic compounds are labeled with the dedicated R-phrase and the hazard symbol skuU-and-crossbones T with the hazard specification toxic . The exact criteria are summarized in Table 3.3. 

In analogy to the acute, non-lethal effects, the critical exposure route has to be specified in combination with one or more of the R-phrases 23, 24, or 25. 

Corrosive substances destroy the skin and can produce necrosis. Although there is only one danger symbol, a corrosive property must be distinguished from a very corrosive property by the use of different R-phrases. The following time-dependent differences exist ... 

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