Are scale inhibitors hazardous chemicals?

Scale inhibitors are generally not classified as hazardous chemicals, but specific circumstances must be assessed based on their composition and properties.

Generally, common scale inhibitors such as organic phosphonates (e.g., HEDP, ATMP, etc.) and polycarboxylic acids, under normal use and storage conditions, do not possess hazardous characteristics such as flammability, explosiveness, toxicity, or harmfulness, and are therefore not classified as hazardous chemicals.

However, some scale inhibitors may contain specific chemical components or exhibit certain hazardous properties under specific concentrations or conditions. For example, scale inhibitors containing strong acids or strong bases may have corrosive properties; certain phosphorus-containing scale inhibitors, if discharged in large quantities, may cause environmental hazards such as eutrophication. For such scale inhibitors with potential hazardous properties, production, storage, transportation, and use must be conducted in accordance with relevant hazardous chemical management regulations.