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Diss Factsheets
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EC number: 233-032-0 | CAS number: 10024-97-2
- 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
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Nitrous oxide is not very toxic after single or repeated exposures. Concentrations of 300 000 ml/m³ (545 455 mg/m3) and more have analgesic effects and concentrations of 800 000 ml/m³ (1 454 545 mg/m3) and more have anaesthetic effects (MAK value documentation, 1993).
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no study available
Acute toxicity: via inhalation route
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- acute toxicity: inhalation
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment
- Qualifier:
- no guideline followed
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- Swiss Webster mice (15/sex/gp) were exposed to N2O via whole body inhalation at concentrations of 0, 5000, 50000 or 500000 ppm [0, 0.5, 5, 50%] for 4/h/d, 5d/wk over 14 wks.
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Limit test:
- no
- Species:
- mouse
- Strain:
- Swiss Webster
- Sex:
- male/female
- Route of administration:
- inhalation: gas
- Type of inhalation exposure:
- whole body
- Vehicle:
- air
- Duration of exposure:
- 4 h
- Concentrations:
- 0, 5000, 50000 and 500000 ppm (0.5, 5, 50 %)
- No. of animals per sex per dose:
- 27
- Control animals:
- yes
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect level:
- > 909 091 mg/m³ air
- Based on:
- test mat.
- Exp. duration:
- 4 h
- Key result
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect level:
- > 500 000 ppm
- Based on:
- test mat.
- Exp. duration:
- 4 h
- Mortality:
- No animal died during the course of the study.
- Interpretation of results:
- GHS criteria not met
Reference
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Value:
- > 909 091 mg/m³ air
- Physical form:
- inhalation: gas
- Quality of whole database:
- Reliable with restrictions.
Acute toxicity: via dermal route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no study available
Additional information
Acute toxicity: via inhalation
No acute inhalation toxicity study following the OECD test guideline 403 is available. However, in the study of Rice et al. (1985) Swiss Webster mice (15/sex/gp) were exposed to nitrous oxide via whole body inhalation at concentrations of 0, 5000, 50000 or 500000 ppm [0, 0.5, 5, 50%] for 4h/d, 5d/wk over 14 wks. No morbidity or mortality was observed, with all animals surviving exposure day 14. The LC50 is estimated to be higher than 500000 ppm (=909091 mg/m3).
In the absence of specific data this study is deemed appropriate to address the assessment of acute inhalation toxicity of nitrous oxide.
Since nitrous oxide is a gas, the oral and dermal route is not relevant for the assessment of acute toxicity.
General remark
1 mL/m3 (ppm) = 1.83 mg/m3
Justification for classification or non-classification
Classification, Labeling, and Packaging Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
While not following the test design of an acute inhalation toxicity study according to OECD TG 403, the study of Rice is considered sufficient to conclude that acute exposure to nitrous oxide is insufficient for classification for acute toxicity according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, as amended for fifteenth time in Regulation (EU) No 2020/1182.
Due to its narcotic effects nitrous oxide is classified as STOT SE H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, as amended for fifteenth time in Regulation (EU) No 2020/1182.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
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