GHS hazard statement
H402: Harmful to aquatic life
- H402
- Environmental hazards
- No signal word
H402 means “Harmful to aquatic life”. It is a GHS hazard statement for Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 3).
Hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | Pictogram | Signal word | UN transport class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard | Category 3 | None | No signal word | — |
What H402 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 H402
The GHS lists these precautionary statements for this hazard. Which ones appear on a label depends on the supplier's classification.
Chemicals carrying H402
No chemicals in our database are classified with H402 yet.
H402 frequently asked questions
What does H402 mean?
H402 means "Harmful to aquatic life". It is a GHS hazard statement in the environmental hazards group, covering Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard (Category 3).
Which pictogram goes with H402?
H402 does not require a GHS pictogram in the data we compile.
What signal word goes with H402?
H402 has no signal word in the data we compile.
Which precautionary statements go with H402?
The GHS data lists 2 precautionary statements for H402, 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)