GHS hazard statement
H331: Toxic if inhaled
- H331
- Health hazards
- Danger
H331 means “Toxic if inhaled”. It is a GHS hazard statement for Acute toxicity, inhalation (Category 3), shown with GHS06 under the signal word “Danger”.
Hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | Pictogram | Signal word | UN transport class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity, inhalation | Category 3 |  | Danger | Div 2.3 or 6.1 |
What H331 means
Acute toxicity covers harmful effects that occur after a single exposure, or several exposures within 24 hours, by swallowing (oral), skin contact (dermal) or breathing in (inhalation). The GHS has five categories, from Category 1 (most toxic) to Category 5, based on lethal-dose or lethal-concentration data.
The product can cause serious harm, and in the worst categories death, after one short exposure. Categories 1 to 3 carry the skull-and-crossbones pictogram, and Category 4 carries the exclamation mark.
What to do
Avoid all contact, breathing and swallowing. Use only with good ventilation or local exhaust, wear the gloves, protective clothing and respiratory protection the SDS calls for, do not eat, drink or smoke while working, wash thoroughly afterwards, and call a poison center or doctor if exposed.
This is general guidance for the hazard class. The safety data sheet for your product always takes precedence.
Precautionary statements for H331
The GHS lists these precautionary statements for this hazard. Which ones appear on a label depends on the supplier's classification.
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| P261 | Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray. |
| P271 | Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. |
| P304+P340 | IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. |
| P316 | Get emergency medical help immediately. |
| P321 | Specific treatment (see ... on this label). |
| P403+P233 | Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. |
| P405 | Store locked up. |
| P501 | Dispose of contents/container to ... |
Chemicals carrying H331
16 chemicals in our database. Classification comes from each chemical's primary GHS source, so a supplier's SDS may differ.
H331 frequently asked questions
What does H331 mean?
H331 means "Toxic if inhaled". It is a GHS hazard statement in the health hazards group, covering Acute toxicity, inhalation (Category 3).
Which pictogram goes with H331?
H331 is shown with GHS06 (Skull and Crossbones).
What signal word goes with H331?
The signal word for H331 is "Danger".
Which precautionary statements go with H331?
The GHS data lists 8 precautionary statements for H331, including P261, P271, P304+P340, P316, P321. They cover prevention, response, storage and disposal. The full list is on this page.
Hazard statements describe the hazard of a classified substance or mixture. The classification of a specific product can differ, so use the supplier's SDS.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ghs/ghscode_10.txt (UN GHS Revision 10, retrieved 2026-10-12)