Glossary / Health hazards
Irritant
An irritant is a substance that causes reversible inflammation of the skin, eyes or respiratory tract after contact or inhalation. The damage is less severe than a corrosive and normally heals.
Explanation
Irritation shows up as redness, itching, stinging, watering eyes, coughing or a sore throat. The severity depends on concentration and how long contact lasts. Frequent repeated contact, such as handling a mild detergent with bare hands all day, can add up to real dermatitis even if one exposure seems harmless.
Under GHS, skin irritation is Category 2, and eye irritation is Category 2 with a subdivision for milder, quickly reversible effects. Respiratory tract irritation is covered under specific target organ toxicity from a single exposure. The usual label elements are the exclamation mark pictogram and the signal word Warning, with hazard statements such as H315, H319 and H335.
The key difference from a Corrosive is reversibility. Corrosives destroy tissue and leave permanent injury; irritants inflame it. The line is drawn by testing and by how long effects last. A Sensitizer also differs, because it works through an allergic response and may be harmless to some people.
Irritant vapors can act as a warning, as workers notice the sting before reaching a more dangerous level. Do not rely on this, since some irritants dull the senses and others have no warning at all.
What to do and watch for
- Wash skin promptly after contact and use barrier protection for repeated tasks.
- Use splash goggles when liquids might reach the eyes, because ordinary glasses leave gaps.
- Ventilate work areas so vapors and dusts stay away from the breathing zone.
Where it appears on an SDS
- Section 2: Hazard identification. Skin, eye and respiratory irritation categories appear with the exclamation mark pictogram and Warning signal word.
- Section 11: Toxicological information. Animal or human test findings and observed symptoms of irritation are described in the toxicological summary.
SDS content and wording vary by supplier. This page is general reference and does not replace the current SDS for your product.