Environmentally hazardous substances

DEFINITION

Substances or mixtures dangerous to the aquatic environment not presenting a danger covered by other classes of Dangerous Goods, must be assigned to packing group III and designated:

• UN 3077 Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s

Environmentally hazardous substances (aquatic environment) are those that meet the criteria in 2.9.3 of the UN Model Regulations or that meet criteria in national and international regulations established by the appropriate national authority in the State of origin, transit or destination of the consignment. The detailed classification categories and criteria for environmentally hazardous substances (aquatic environment) as set out in 2.9.3 of the UN Model Regulations.

As per 2.9.3 UN Model regulations:

“Substance” means chemical elements and their compounds in the natural state or obtained by any production process, including any additive necessary to preserve the stability of the product and any impurities deriving from the process used, but excluding any solvent which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition.

The aquatic environment may be considered in terms of the aquatic organisms that live in the water and the aquatic ecosystem of which they are part. The basis, therefore, of the identification of hazard is the aquatic toxicity of the substance or mixture, although this may be modified by further information on the degradation and bioaccumulation behaviour.

CLASSIFICATION

The following are the details of classification for Environmentally hazardous substance (as per table 4.2 of current edition of IATA DGR):

PACKAGING

The applicable packaging Instruction for this product are:

• PI 956 & Y956 (In case of limited quantity packaging)

Refer to the concerned Packing Instruction in the current edition of the IATA DGR.

Note: The shipper shall produce the “UN Certificate of packaging” accompanying every shipment to be tendered under this category.

GENERAL PACKING REQUIREMENT

• Parts of packagings which are in direct contact with dangerous goods:

1. must not be affected or significantly weakened by those dangerous goods.
2. must not cause a dangerous effect, e.g. catalyzing a reaction or reacting with the dangerous goods; and
3. must not allow permeation of the dangerous goods that could constitute a danger under normal conditions of transport.
4. Where necessary, they must be provided with a suitable inner coating or treatment.
5. Shippers must also ensure that any absorbent materials and the materials of intermediate packagings for liquids do not react dangerously with the liquid.

• Materials, such as some plastics, which can be significantly softened or rendered brittle or permeable by the temperatures likely to be experienced during transport or because of the chemical action of the contents or the use of a refrigerant, must not be used. Even though certain packagings are specified in individual packing instructions it is, nevertheless, the responsibility of the shipper to ensure that such packagings are, in every way, compatible with the articles or substances to be contained within such packagings. This particularly applies to corrosivity, permeability, softening, premature ageing and embrittlement.
• The body and the closure of any packaging must be so constructed as to be able to adequately resist the effects of temperature and vibration occurring in normal conditions of transport. The closure device must be so designed that it:

1. is unlikely that it can be incorrectly or incompletely closed and must be such that it may be checked easily to determine that it is completely closed.
2. remains closed during transport.

• In addition, for inner packagings containing liquids, closures must be held securely, tightly and effectively in place by secondary means. Examples of such methods include adhesive tape, friction sleeves, welding or soldering, positive locking wires, locking rings, induction heat seals and child-resistant closures. The closure device must be so designed that it is unlikely that it can be incorrectly or incompletely closed. When secondary means of closure cannot be applied, the inner packaging must be securely closed and placed in a leakproof liner and then placed in an outer packaging.

DOCUMENTATION

The following documents are required for booking shipments under this class:

1. Two copies of completely filled Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) in English.
2. Instruction for Dispatch of Goods (IDG).
3. UN certificate of packaging.
4. MSDS of the shipment (for reference in case of Emergency)

LABELLING

• Each package of the shipment under this category must be securely affixed (or printed) with the below label on at least two opposite sides for clear visibility.
• Each label must be affixed or printed on a background of contrasting colour or must have a dotted or solid line outer boundary.
• labels must not be folded or affixed in such a manner that parts of the same label appear on different

faces of the package

RESTRICTIONS

• Shipment of this class not to be transported in ATR flights.
• Shipment of this class not to be loaded in the cabin of the aircraft.