Class 6 - Division 6.1, Classification of Toxic Substances

Toxicity is represented by LD50, which is an abbreviation for median lethal dose.

The LD50 for acute oral toxicity is the statistically derived single dose of a substance that can be expected to kill 50% of the test subjects (adult albino rats) within 14 days. The LD50 value is expressed as mass of the substance per mass of the test subject (mg/kg).

The LD50 for acute dermal toxicity is the dose of the substance that, when applied to the bare skin of an albino rabbit continuously for 24 hours, will likely cause death in half of the test subjects. The value is expressed in mg/kg body mass.

Inhalation toxicity is represented in LC50, which refers to the lethal concentration of a substance in air. The LC50 for acute inhalation toxicity is the concentration of dust, mist, or vapor, which, when inhaled continuously for one hour by adult albino rats, will most likely cause death within 14 days in half of the test population. A solid substance should be tested if at least 10% of its mass is dust. A liquid substance should be tested if a mist is likely to be generated from leakage. The LC50 value is expressed in mg/L of air for dusts and mists, or in mL/m³ of air for vapors. When testing the toxicity of vapors, the saturated vapor concentration (V) of the substance in the air is measured in mL/m³ at 20°C (68°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure.

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