Substance profile
Safrole
Safrole is a colorless or pale yellow oil with a sassafras odor.
01 · Identification
What Safrole is
Safrole is a colorless or pale yellow oil with a sassafras odor. Its molecular formula is C10H10O2 and its molecular weight is 162.18 g/mol. It boils at 235 °C, melts at 11.2 °C, is practically insoluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Safrole identifiers and molecular data
Safrole CAS number and EC number
Safrole molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Safrole
- 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxole
03 · GHS classification
Safrole hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Safrole pictograms and signal word
Safrole hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Germ cell mutagenicity GHS chapter 3.5 | Category 2 | H341 | GHS08 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 1A or 1B | H350 | GHS08 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Safrole hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H341 | Suspected of causing genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Safrole. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Safrole
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Safrole issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Safrole precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 8 precautionary statements to Safrole. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Safrole name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | сафрол 5-алил-1,3-бензодиоксол |
| Spanish español | Safrol 5-alil-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Czech čeština | safrol 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Danish dansk | safrole 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxol |
| German Deutsch | Safrol 5-Allyl-1,3-benzodioxol5-(2-Propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Estonian eesti | safrool 5-allüül-1,3-bensodioksool |
| Greek ελληνικά | σαφρόλη 5-αλλυλο-1,3-βενζοδιοξόλη |
| English English | safrole 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxole |
| French français | safrole 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxole |
| Croatian hrvatski | safrol 5-alil-1,3-benzodioksol |
| Italian italiano | safrolo 5-allil-1,3-benzodiossolo |
| Latvian latviešu | safrols 5-alil-1,3-benzdioksols |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | safrolas 5-alil-1,3-benzdioksolanas |
| Hungarian magyar | szafrol 5-allil-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Maltese Malti | safrol 5-allil-1,3-benżodiossol |
| Dutch Nederlands | safrool 5-allyl-1,3-benzodioxool |
| Polish polski | safrol 5-allilo-1,3-benzodioksol |
| Portuguese português | safrole 5-alil-1,3-benzodioxole |
| Romanian română | safrol 5-alil-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Slovak slovenčina | safrol 5-alyl-1,3-benzodioxol |
| Slovenian slovenščina | safrol 5-alil-1,3-benzodioksol |
| Finnish suomi | safroli 5-allyyli-1,3-bentsodioksoli |
| Swedish svenska | safrol 5-allyl-1,3-bensodioxol |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Safrole GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Safrole, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Safrole
- May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Suspected of causing genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Safrole in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Safrole health hazards and exposure limits
Safrole hazard summary
Safrole is the toxic agent in sassafras oil; Safrole is classified as 2B (possible human carcinogen) by IARC; Safrole is metabolized in the body to 1'-hydroxysafrole; Ingestion of 5 ml of sassafras oil can cause severe symptoms (tachycardia, hypotension, and respiratory paralysis) or death; Large doses may damage the liver; Drinking 10 cups of sassafras tea caused sweating in one adult subject; Emergency treatment: Sassafras oil; [HSDB] A skin irritant; Targets the liver; [MSDSonline]
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Safrole carcinogenicity classification
The Human Health Assessment Group in EPA's Office of Health and Environmental Assessment has evaluated safrole for carcinogenicity. According to their analysis, the weight-of-evidence for safrole is group B2, which is based on sufficient evidence in animals. No data are available in humans. As a group B2 chemical, safrole is considered probably carcinogenic to humans.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
No data are available in humans. Sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. OVERALL EVALUATION: Group 2B: The agent is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Safrole properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Safrole boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 235 °C (455 °F) | HSDB | |
| 232.5 °C (450.5 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC | |
| 233.06 °C (451.5 °F) | range, midpoint shown, at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Safrole melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| 11.22 °C (52.2 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 11 °C (51.8 °F) | DOE PAC |
Safrole density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.1 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| 1.096 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | DOE PAC |
Safrole solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Insoluble in water | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in ethanol; miscible with ethyl ether, chloroform | HSDB | ||
| Soluble in alcohol; slightly soluble in propylene glycol; insoluble in glycerol | HSDB |
Safrole vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | -760 mmHg | HSDB | |
| 0.0706 mmHg | at 25 °C, Extrapolated | HSDB | |
| 1 mmHg | at 63.78 °C | CAMEO |
Safrole flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 100 °C (212 °F) | Closed cup | HSDB |
| 97.78 °C (208 °F) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Safrole fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Safrole fire potential
Slight.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Safrole storage and handling
Safrole storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Storage class (TRGS 510): 6.1D: Non-combustible, acute toxic Cat.3 / toxic hazardous materials or hazardous materials causing chronic effects
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Safrole incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Safrole reactivity
SAFROLE, an acetal, is readily hydrolyzed in acidic solution to give 4-allylpyrocatechol and formaldehyde (or formaldehyde polymers).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Safrole in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Safrole — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Safrole?
The CAS number of Safrole is 94-59-7. Its EC number is 202-345-4.
What is the chemical formula of Safrole?
The molecular formula of Safrole is C10H10O2 and its molecular weight is 162.18 g/mol.
What does a Safrole label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Safrole carries the pictograms Health hazard and Exclamation mark and the signal word is Danger.
Is Safrole flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Safrole no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it. The flash point reported for it is 100 °C (212 °F), Closed cup (HSDB).
Is Safrole a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Safrole as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350: may cause cancer. IARC places it in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the boiling point of Safrole?
The boiling point reported for Safrole is 235 °C (455 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Safrole?
The melting point reported for Safrole is 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) (HSDB).
How should Safrole be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Storage class (TRGS 510): 6.1D: Non-combustible, acute toxic Cat.3 / toxic hazardous materials or hazardous materials causing chronic effects (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Safrole
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