Nitrous oxide: Evaluation of the effects on reproduction, recommendation for classification

On request of the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Health Council of the Netherlands evaluates the effects on the reproduction of substances at the workplace. The Health Council’s Committee for Compounds Toxic to Reproduction recommends to classify compounds toxic to reproduction according to the Directive 93/21/EEC of the European Union. In the present report the committee has reviewed nitrous oxide.

The committee’s recommendations are:

• For effects on fertility, the committee recommends to classify nitrous oxide in category 3 (substances which cause concern for human fertility) and to label nitrous oxide with R62 (possible risk for impaired fertility).

• For developmental toxicity, the committee recommends to classify nitrous oxide in category 3 (substances which cause concern for humans owing to possible developmental toxic effects) and to label nitrous oxide with R63 (possible risk of harm to the unborn child).

• For effects during lactation, the committee is of the opinion that due to a lack of appropriate data nitrous oxide should not be labelled with R64.

Committee