Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin sensitisation

Endpoint conclusion
Additional information:

A comprehensive literature search and evaluation programme on animal and human sensitisation data of disodium sulphide, sodium hydrogensulphide and sodium carbonate has been conducted. All data sources were assessed by expert toxicologists for quality and reliability, as well as relevance for regulatory risk assessment under REACH.

Based on the caustic alkaline nature of disodium sulphide and sodium hydrogen sulphide with extreme pH and the skin corrosive properties, animal testing for sensitisation potential is not scientifically justifiable as it would not provide any information relevant for the human risk assessment. Additionally, testing with a corrosive substance is not required in accordance with section 8.3, column 2, Annex VII of regulation (EC) 1907/2006, the skin sensitisation study does not need to be conducted as the available information indicates that the criteria are met for classification as corrosive to the skin and the substance is a strong base (pH≥11.5).

As a separate aspect, sulphides may be seen as ions endogenously occurring under physiological conditions, so that their role in normal human metabolism suggests that a sensitisation potential does not necessarily need to be expected.


Migrated from Short description of key information:
No data is available on skin sensitisation of sodium hydrogensulfide or sodium sulphide. As these constituents will be classified for skin corrosivity and has a pH value above 11.5 no testing need to be conducted.

Respiratory sensitisation

Endpoint conclusion
Additional information:

No data is available and no testing is required.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Sodium hydrogensulphide and sodium sulphide and as such scrubber liquid should not be classified as skin sensitizer or respiratory sensitizer for the following reasons:

According to EC Regulation No. 1272/2008, table 3.4.2 a, substances shall be classified as skin sensitizers (Category 1) in accordance with the following criteria:

(i) if there is evidence in humans that the substance can lead to sensitisation by skin contact in a substantial number of persons, or

(ii) if there are positive results from an appropriate animal test (see specific criteria in paragraph 3.4.2.2.4.1).

According to the CLP Regulation Annex I, Section 3.4.2.2 substances fulfilling the criteria for skin sensitisation will be classified as such in Category 1. If none of the above mentioned conditions are met (incl. specific considerations according to chapter 3.4.2.2.2), the substance need not be classified as a skin sensitizer. As no information, neither human nor animal data, is available, none of the specific conditions are fulfilled and no testing need to be conducted, it should not be classified as a skin sensitizer.

Substances shall be classified as respiratory sensitizers (Category 1) in accordance with the following criteria:

(a) if there is evidence in humans that the substance can lead to specific respiratory hypersensitivity and /or

(b) if there are positive results from an appropriate animal test.

According to the CLP Regulation Annex I, Section 3.4.2.1 substances fulfilling the criteria for respiratory sensitisation will be classified as such in Category 1.

As no such information is available, no classification is proposed on respiratory sensitisation.