GHS hazard statement
H401: Toxic to aquatic life
- H401
- Environmental hazards
- No signal word
H401 means “Toxic to aquatic life”. It is a GHS hazard statement for Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 2).
Hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | Pictogram | Signal word | UN transport class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard | Category 2 | None | No signal word | — |
What H401 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 H401
The GHS lists these precautionary statements for this hazard. Which ones appear on a label depends on the supplier's classification.
Chemicals carrying H401
No chemicals in our database are classified with H401 yet.
H401 frequently asked questions
What does H401 mean?
H401 means "Toxic to aquatic life". It is a GHS hazard statement in the environmental hazards group, covering Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 2).
Which pictogram goes with H401?
H401 does not require a GHS pictogram in the data we compile.
What signal word goes with H401?
H401 has no signal word in the data we compile.
Which precautionary statements go with H401?
The GHS data lists 2 precautionary statements for H401, including P273, 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)