EPA REGULATIONS FOR USE OF HUMAN HAZARD SIGNAL WORDS ON PESTICIDE LABELS
Signal words assigned by levels of toxicity
I.
(A)
Toxicity Category I.
All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category I shall bear on the front panel the signal word "Danger". In addition if the
product was assigned to Toxicity Category I on the basis of its oral, inhalation or dermal toxicity (as distinct from skin and eye local effects)
the word "Poison" shall appear in red on a background of distinctly contrasting color and the skull and crossbones shall appear in immediate
proximity to the word "Poison".
II.
(B)
Toxicity Category II.
All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category II shall bear on the front panel the signal word "Warning".
III.
(C)
Toxicity Category III.
All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category III shall bear on the front panel the signal word "Caution".
IV.
(D)
Toxicity Category IV.
All pesticide products meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category IV shall bear on the front panel the signal word "Caution".
V.
(E)
Use of signal words.
Use of any signal word(s) associated with a higher Toxicity Category is not permitted except when the Agency determines that such labeling
is necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment. In no case shall more than one human hazard signal word
appear on the front panel of a label.
A.
Toxicity Categories
Hazard Indicator
I
II
III
IV
Oral LD 50
Up to and including
From 50 through
From 500 through
Greater than
50 mg/kg
500 mg/kg
5000 mg/kg
5000 mg/kg
Inhalation LC 50
Up to and including
From .2 through 2
From 2 through 20
Greater than
.2 mg/liter
mg/liter
mg/liter
20 mg/liter
Dermal LD 50
Up to and including
From 200 through
From 2000 through
Greater than
200 mg/kg
2000 mg/kg
20,000 mg/kg
20,000 mg/kg
No corneal opacity;
No irritation
Eye Effects
Corrosive, corneal
Corneal opacity
opacity not
reversible in 7
irritation reversible
reversible within 7
days; irritation
days
persisting for 7
days
Skin Effects
Corrosive
Severe irritation at
Moderate irritation
Mild or slight
72 hours
at 72 hours
irritation at 72
hours
Figure 2-7. FIFRA Table of Toxicity Categories by Hazard Indicator.
