GHS hazard statement
H400: Very toxic to aquatic life
- H400
- Environmental hazards
- Warning
H400 means “Very toxic to aquatic life”. It is a GHS hazard statement for Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 1), shown with GHS09 under the signal word “Warning”.
Hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | Pictogram | Signal word | UN transport class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard | Category 1 |  | Warning | Class 9 |
What H400 means
Acute aquatic hazard describes harm to aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans and algae from short-term exposure to a substance.
A release into drains, streams, lakes or soil that reaches water can quickly harm aquatic life.
What to do
Avoid release to the environment, collect spillage, keep out of drains and waterways, and dispose of the contents and container through an approved waste disposal plant.
This is general guidance for the hazard class. The safety data sheet for your product always takes precedence.
Precautionary statements for H400
The GHS lists these precautionary statements for this hazard. Which ones appear on a label depends on the supplier's classification.
Chemicals carrying H400
27 chemicals in our database. Classification comes from each chemical's primary GHS source, so a supplier's SDS may differ.
H400 frequently asked questions
What does H400 mean?
H400 means "Very toxic to aquatic life". It is a GHS hazard statement in the environmental hazards group, covering Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 1).
Which pictogram goes with H400?
H400 is shown with GHS09 (Environment).
What signal word goes with H400?
The signal word for H400 is "Warning".
Which precautionary statements go with H400?
The GHS data lists 3 precautionary statements for H400, including P273, P391, P501. 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)