Phosphorus

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Skin irritation: 2 studies (1 key study/1 supporting study) available: not irritating
Eye irritation: 2 studies (1 key study/1 supporting study) available: not irritating

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Additional information

There is one reliable study available on the skin irritancy potential. Red Phosphorus was tested for its skin irritant properties in 6 New Zealand White rabbits. The study was performed equivalent to OECD Guideline 404. Deviation was a prolonged exposure period (24 hours). These condition makes the study design more rigid compared to the regarding OECD Guideline. Red Phosphorus did not produce signs of irritation. The mean primary irritation score (intact akin) was 0 which indicates that the test material does not have irritation potential. Clinical signs indicative of systemic toxicity were not observed during the course of this study.

In a further supporting study with restricted reporting Red Phosphorus did not cause any irritation to the skin.

 

There is one study available on the eye irritancy potential. Red Phosphorus was tested for its eye irritant properties in 6 New Zealand White rabbits. The study was performed equivalent to OECD Guideline 405 without any deviation.The Instillation of Red Phosphorus into rabbit eyes did not produce any irritation or injury to the cornea or iris. The conjunctivae of all rabbits showed a slight redness 1 hour after treatment. In one rabbit, a slight redness was also apparent at 24 hours. Five of six rabbits treated with the test material showed slight swelling at t hour post-treatment which was not present at 24-hours post treatment. From these results it was concluded that oiled Red Phosphorus was neither corrosive nor irritating to the eye. This observation is confirmed by the results of a supporting study.

Justification for classification or non-classification

With reference the reported scores and the reversibility of the observed effects on the rabbit’s skin and eye Red Phosphorus does not have to be classified as irritant to the eyes according to the criteria laid down in the EU Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) and in the EU Classification Labelling and Packaging Regulation (1272/2008/EC).

It can reasonably be deduced that Red Phosphorus does not cause respiratory tract irritation and thus does not have to be classified, because the substance did cause only slight, fully reversible irritative effects in the eyes and the skin. It does not have to be classified as either skin or eye irritating. Therefore, Red Phosphorus, in the unlikely event of being inhaled as a dust, is considered not to cause severe effects, due to its not- irritating properties on skin and eye. A harmful interaction with living cells and tissues is very unlikely (as demonstrated by the in vivo skin and eye irritation studies).