Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 231-106-7 | CAS number: 7439-97-6
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Two acute oral toxicity studies in rats with mercury chloride were considered, and one study with inhalation exposure of rats to elmental mercury. In addition, one oral study with an alloy containing about 24.8% mercury was considered as well. There is only very little information available on dermal toxicity. One study with treatment of rabbits with mercury containing ointments was considered.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Endpoint conclusion
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 35 mg/kg bw
Additional information
In an acute oral toxicity study in rats of different age groups, the highest oral toxicity was found in the youngest group of rats (two week-old sucklings) as indicated by the lowest LD50 value of 35 mg/kg bw mercury chloride (26 mg Hg/kg bw). In six week-old animals, a LD50 of about 92 mg/kg bw HgCl2 (78 mg Hg/kg bw) was determined, and in older animals (up to 54 weeks) the LD50 values were only about 1.4 times higher than in sucklings (50 mg/kg bw HgCl2 corresponding to 37 mg Hg/kg bw).
The LD50 (rats) was higher than 2000 mg/kg for the test item MISCELA HY-TQS. Since only about 24.8% of mercury are included in the test item, this can be recalculated to > 496 mg/kg mercury.
A concentration level of 27 mg/m3 Hg was lethal in the majority of animals exposed by inhalation for 2 hours, but no death occured in animals exposed only for 1 hour.
Limited information on acute dermal toxicity in rabbits indicated lethality after application of high dermal doses of mercury from ointments.
Mild to moderate morphological changes were observed in the kidneys of rats at lower oral dose levels in the range of 10.0 and 12.5 mg/kg b.w. (7.4 and 9.2 mg Hg/kg bw/d ). Morphological changes in kidneys were also found in animals treated dermally with high doses of mercury. Biochemistry revealed decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and an increasse in serum cholesterol and phosphorus, and hematology showed decreases in red blood cell parameters in the oral study.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Elemental mercury and mercury dichloride are classified according to Annex I of Directive 67/548EEC as "very toxic by inhalation (Hg) or if swallowed HgCl2) ". According to the Harmonised Classification and Labelling Regulation No. 172/2008 elemental mercury and mercury dichloride are classified with Acute Tox. 2 - fatal if inhaled.
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