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EC number: 231-197-3 | CAS number: 7446-11-9
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data

Epidemiological data
Administrative data
- Endpoint:
- epidemiological data
- Type of information:
- other: review
- Remarks:
- IARC
- Adequacy of study:
- supporting study
- Study period:
- 1997
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: The IARC monograph reviews the available epidemiological studies of the carcinogenicity of sulphuric acid
Data source
Reference
- Reference Type:
- review article or handbook
- Title:
- Occupational Exposures to Mists and Vapours from Strong Inorganic Acids; and Other Industrial Chemicals
- Author:
- IARC working group
- Year:
- 1 997
- Bibliographic source:
- IARC Monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans; Vol 54
Materials and methods
- Study type:
- other: review of available data
- Endpoint addressed:
- carcinogenicity
Test guideline
- Qualifier:
- no guideline available
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- The IARC monograph reviewed the available epidemiological data relevant to carcinogenicity resulting from occupational exposure to sulphuric acid.
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Remarks:
- : not applicable
Test material
- Reference substance name:
- Sulphuric acid
- EC Number:
- 231-639-5
- EC Name:
- Sulphuric acid
- Cas Number:
- 7664-93-9
- Molecular formula:
- H2O4S
- IUPAC Name:
- sulfuric acid
Constituent 1
Method
- Exposure assessment:
- not specified
Results and discussion
- Results:
- The IARC Working Groups concluded that there was sufficient evidence that occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulphuric acid is carcinogenic.
Any other information on results incl. tables
The IARC Working Group considered the available epidemiological data:
An early study of isopropanol manufacture in the using the strong-acid process demonstrated an excess of nasal sinus cancer. Studies of one cohort of workers in pickling operations within the steel industry showed excesses of laryngeal and lung cancer after smoking and other potential confounding variables had been controlled for. A Swedish study of a cohort of workers involved in steel pickling also showed an excess risk for laryngeal cancer. A nested case-control study of workers in a petrochemical plant showed an elevated risk for laryngeal cancer among workers exposed to sulphuric acid. Of two population-based case-control studies in , one study of laryngeal cancer showed an increased risk for exposure to sulphuric acid, and one of lung cancer suggested an excess risk; the latter also suggested a risk associated with exposure to mixed inorganic acids. In all these studies, sulphuric acid mists were the most common exposure, and positive exposure-response relationships were seen in two of the studies. Additional supporting evidence was provided by one cohort study in the soap manufacturing industry in which showed an increased risk for laryngeal cancer. Studies of three cohorts and one Swedish cohort in the phosphate fertiliser manufacturing industry showed excess lung cancer, but there was potential confounding from exposure to radon decay products in some cohorts.
The following general/mechanistic considerations were made:
Acid mists containing particles with a diameter of up to a few micrometers will be deposited in both the upper and lower airways. They are irritating to mucous epithelia, they cause dental erosion, and they produce acute effects in the lungs (symptoms and changes in pulmonary function). Asthmatics appear to be at particular risk for pulmonary effects. Significant increases in the incidences of sister chromatid exchange, micronucleus formation and chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes were observed in a single study of workers engaged in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. The studies reviewed examined the effects of pH values 7 specifically. In cultured mammalian cells at pH 6.7 or below, cell transformation, gene mutation and chromosomal aberrations were induced. Mitotic abnormalities were induced in sea urchins and clastogenic effects were seen in plants. Gene conversion was induced in yeast cells. No point mutation was observed in fungi, yeast or bacteria. Acid pH caused depurination of isolated DNA.
Animal carcinogenicity data were not considered by the Working Group.
Applicant's summary and conclusion
- Conclusions:
- The IARC concluded, based on their review of the available data, that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that occupational exposure to strong inorganic acid mists containing sulphuric acid is carcinogenic. However it is noted that the (negative) animal carcinogenicity studies were not discussed and that there are a number of confounding factors.
- Executive summary:
The IARC Working Group reviewed the available human epidemiological studies relevant to the carcinogenicity of sulphuric acid. The animal carcinogenicity data were not considered. It was concluded that the data were sufficient to classify 'occupational exposure to string-inorganic-acid mists contaning sulphuric acid' as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
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