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Diss Factsheets
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EC number: 231-179-5 | CAS number: 7440-70-2
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
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Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Metallic calcium itself does not exhibit irritating properties. The subsequent reaction of elemental calcium with air and moisture results in calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide which liberate hydroxyl ions upon first contact on external surfaces of the human body. Studies with calcium oxide and calcium dihydroxide regarding irritating and corrosive properties exhibit irritative properties due to these. This is taken into consideration in the exposure assessment of elemental calcium (see Chapter 9 in CSR).
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Skin irritation / corrosion
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not irritating)
Eye irritation
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not irritating)
Respiratory irritation
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not irritating)
Additional information
Based on the known chemistry of alkaline earth metals, Ca metal reacts with water, evolving hydrogen gas. In powdered form the reaction with water is extremely rapid. In the Ca-water reaction calcium dihydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is formed. Formed calcium oxide and calcium dihydroxide, react upon first contact on the external surfaces of the human body and their main effect is alkali effect by released hydroxyl ions. Exposure considerations of elemental Ca used in iron, steel and alloy manufacturing processes mostly in massive forms such as lumps, turnings and strips or granules of 2-7 mm, exposure to the human is considered unlikely. Calcium’s role in the steel and alloy manufacturing processes is to scavenge the molten metal for oxygen; effectively serving as an antioxidant. The life cycle of Ca metal in these processes ends with reaction on use; therefore there is no exposure to Ca (metal form) after it is introduced into the furnace. Ca metal will immediately react under the extreme heat conditions of these processes to form CaO which may be emitted as a fume or dust from the furnace or become part of the slag. Metallic calcium emitted (CaO) will cause skin irritation, if workers are exposed.Based on exposure scenarios (chapter 9 of CSR) and risk characterization (chapter 10 of CSR) dermal exposure within industrial processes is taken into account and RMMs already in place in the industry are sufficient for safe use of metallic calcium (section 7.10 of IUCLID, SCOEL (2008)).
Justification for classification or non-classification
Metallic calcium itself does not exhibit irritating properties, there is no need for classification.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
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