Aspiration hazard is a substance that has the potential to enter the trachea and lower respiratory system through the oral or nasal cavity during inspiration (breathing-in) causing asphyxiation, injury, or negative health effects.
There are different categories of aspiration hazards, ranked according to their level of toxicity and range in severity from mildly dangerous to fatal.
| Categories | Criteria |
| Category 1: Chemicals known to cause human aspiration toxicity hazards or to be regarded as if they cause human aspiration toxicity hazard | A substance shall be classified in Category 1:(a) If reliable and good quality human evidence indicates that it causes aspiration toxicity; or (b) If it is a hydrocarbon and has a kinematic viscosity ≤ 20.5 mm2/s, measured at 40 °C.Examples of substances included in Category 1 are certain hydrocarbons, turpentine and pine oil |
| Category 2: Chemicals which cause concern owing to the presumption that they cause human aspiration toxicity hazard | On the basis of existing animal studies and expert judgment that takes into account surface tension, water solubility, boiling point, and volatility, substances, other than those classified in Category 1, which have a kinematic viscosity ≤14 mm2/s, measured at 40 °C.
Examples of chemicals in this category: n-primary alcohols with a composition of at least 3 carbon atoms but not more than 13; isobutyl alcohol, and ketones with a composition of no more than 13 carbon atoms. |
Additional materials for aspiration hazards
Material
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