Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0067-0018
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-11-17T05:00Z

PAGE
INTENTIONALLY
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William
C.
Herz
Director
of
Scientific
Programs
M
E
M
O
R
A
N
D
U
M
TO:
Product
Testing
Recipient
FROM:
William
C.
Herz,
Director,
Scientific
Programs
SUBJECT:
Potassium
Nitrate
Product
Testing
Dossier
DATE:
March
15,
2003
It
is
with
great
pleasure
that
The
Fertilizer
Institute
(
TFI)
announces
the
completion
and
distribution
of
the
final
product
testing
dossier
for
Potassium
Nitrate
(
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1).

As
you
are
aware,
TFI
sponsored
this
four
 
year
program
to
develop
and
summarize
screeninglevel
hazard
information
for
high
production
volume
(
HPV)
chemicals.
The
data
elements
generated
represent
a
broad
overview
of
human
health
and
ecological
parameters.
These
include
a
physical
­
chemical
characterization,
environmental
fate,
mammalian
toxicity
and
ecotoxicity.
A
health
and
environmental
safety
data
summary
dossier
was
prepared
for
each
of
the
23
materials.
It
summarizes
the
available
literature
data,
new
testing
data,
category
description
and
read
across
data
as
well
as
provides
a
conclusion
regarding
the
inherent
hazards
of
the
material.

Upon
receipt
of
this
data
a
90
calendar
day
regulatory
trigger
starts
within
which
you
must
update
your
material
safety
data
sheets
(
MS­
DS).
Upon
first
product
shipment
you
must
also
notify
your
distributors
and
employers
once
the
MS­
DS
has
been
updated.
These
regulatory
requirements
are
detailed
in
29
CFR
1910.1200(
g)(
5)
and
29
CFR
1910.1200(
g)(
6)(
i).
The
requirements
are
found
in
the
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Administration
"
Hazard
Communication
Standard"
(
29
CFR
1910.1200).

Please
note
that
by
receipt
of
this
data;
you
agree
not
to
distribute
or
sell
this
data
beyond
your
own
company.
PAGE
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POTASSIUM
NITRATE
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Prepared
for:

THE
FERTILIZER
INSTITUTE
January
27,
2003
THE
WEINBERG
GROUP
INC.
1220
Nineteenth
St,
NW,
Suite
300
Washington,
DC
20036­
2400
e­
mail
science@
weinberggroup.
com
WASHINGTON
NEW
YORK
SAN
FRANCISCO
BRUSSELS
PARIS
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
PAGE
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LEFT
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Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE
OVERVIEW...................................................................................................
1
SIDS
DATA
PROFILE..........................................................................................................
7
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARY.....................................................................................................
8
1.
GENERAL
INFORMATION....................................................................................
10
2.
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA..............................................................................
13
3.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
AND
PATHWAYS.....................................................
17
4.
ECOTOXICITY.........................................................................................................
20
5.
TOXICITY.................................................................................................................
25
6.
REFERENCES
..........................................................................................................
36
APPENDICES
Appendix
A
SIDS
Data
Availability
Summary
Appendix
B
SIDS
Data
Summaries
for
the
Nitrate
Compounds
Category:
Ammonium
Nitrate,
Nitrogen
Solutions
(
primarily
Urea
Ammonia
Nitrogen
[
UAN]),
Potassium
Nitrate,
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate,
and
Sodium
Nitrate
ACRONYMS
AND
ABBREVIATIONS
BCF
Bioconcentration
Factor
bw
Body
Weight
DAP
Diammonium
Phosphate
DOT
Department
of
Transportation
FDA
U.
S.
Food
and
Drug
Administration
g/
L
Grams
per
Liter
GLP
Good
Laboratory
Practices
GTSP
Granular
Triple
Super
Phosphate
g/
mL
Grams
per
Milliliter
HSDB
Hazardous
Substance
Data
Bank
IPCS
International
Programme
for
Chemical
Safety
KNO3
Potassium
Nitrate
Koc
Organic
Carbon
Partition
Coefficient
Kow
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
LC50
Median
Lethal
Concentration
LD50
Median
Lethal
Dose
LOAEL
Lowest
Observable
Adverse
Effect
Level
LOEC
Lowest
Observable
Effect
Concentration
LOEL
Lowest
Observable
Effect
Level
M
Molar
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
MAP
Monoammonium
Phosphate
mg/
kg
Milligrams
per
Kilogram
mg/
kg/
day
Milligrams
per
Kilogram
per
Day
mg/
L
Milligrams
per
Liter
MHb
Methyl
Hemoglobin
mm
Hg
Millimeters
of
Mercury
mmol/
L
Millimoles
per
Liter
NaNo3
Sodium
Nitrate
NFPA
National
Fire
Prevention
Association
(
NH4)
2NO3
Ammonium
Nitrate
NIOSH
National
Institute
for
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
NO3
Nitrate
NOAEL
No
Observable
Adverse
Effect
Level
NOEC
No
Observable
Effect
Concentration
NOEL
No
Observable
Effect
Level
OECD
Organisation
for
Economic
Co­
operation
and
Development
Pa
Pascal
ppm
Parts
per
Million
SCAS
Semi
Continuous
Activated
Sludge
SIDS
Screening
Information
Data
Set
SSP
Single
Super
Phosphate
TLm
Median
Toxicity
Level
TLV
Threshold
Limit
Value
TFI
The
Fertilizer
Institute
UAN
Urea
Ammonia
Nitrogen
1
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
EXECUTIVE
OVERVIEW
I.
Introduction
The
Fertilizer
Institute,
on
behalf
of
its
member
companies,
initiated
a
Product
Testing
Project
to
collect,
review,
summarize,
and
where
necessary
develop
additional
health
and
environmental
safety
data
for
23
of
its
high
production
volume
inorganic
fertilizer
materials.
These
data
and
summaries
provide
valuable
information
that
can
be
used
to
update
Material
Safety
Data
Sheets,
answer
customers'
questions,
and
support
product
stewardship
efforts.
The
chemical
industry
is
also
participating
in
a
voluntary
program
of
comparable
scope
for
high
production
volume
organic
chemicals.
1
The
23
fertilizer
materials
were
divided
into
five
categories
(
i.
e.,
ammonia
compounds,
nitrate
compounds,
phosphate
compounds,
salts
and
acids)
based
on
their
primary
constituents
as
shown
in
Table
1.
The
use
of
categories
is
a
recognized
and
accepted
method
that
allows
health
and
environmental
safety
data
from
one
chemical
in
the
category
to
be
used
to
represent
one
or
more
other
related
chemicals
in
the
category
(
USEPA
1999).
The
key
is
to
find
similar,
or
at
least
predictable,
patterns
and
trends
among
the
chemicals
in
a
category.
In
this
way,
data
can
be
pooled,
resources
are
optimized,
and
fewer
animals
are
used
in
testing,
all
without
losing
the
ability
to
evaluate
the
hazards
and
safety
of
the
individual
chemicals.
Note
that
some
of
the
materials
fall
into
more
than
one
category
(
e.
g.,
diammonium
phosphate
[
DAP]
is
in
both
the
phosphate
and
ammonia
categories).

Searches
were
conducted
using
on­
line
databases,
standard
reference
texts,
and
other
published
sources
for
toxicity,
ecotoxicity,
environmental
fate,
and
physical­
chemical
properties.
The
collected
data
were
reviewed
for
quality
and
acceptability
and
then
summarized
according
to
the
Organization
for
Economic
Cooperation
and
Development
(
OECD)
Screening
Information
Data
Set
(
SIDS)
dossier
format
(
OECD
1997).
The
OECD
countries
(
including
the
United
States)
have
agreed
on
a
set
of
tests
and
on
types
of
data
that
are
generally
necessary
to
characterize
the
chemical
behavior
and
potential
hazards
of
chemicals
released
into
the
environment.
The
OECD
SIDS
dossier
was
chosen
as
a
standard
format
for
the
TFI
Product
Testing
Project
in
order
that
it
would
be
scientifically
defensible,
broadly
applicable
and
easily
understandable
to
a
wide
range
of
stakeholders.

The
following
sections
of
this
Executive
Overview
provide
the
rationale
for
development
of
the
Nitrate
Compounds
category
(
Section
II);
a
synopsis
of
the
available
data
related
to
the
physicalchemical
properties,
environmental
fate,
ecotoxicity
and
toxicity
of
the
nitrate
compounds
in
this
category
(
Section
III);
and
a
conclusion
regarding
the
adequacy
of
the
data
to
sufficiently
characterize
the
category
and
the
need
for
additional
testing
(
Section
IV).

The
data
for
potassium
nitrate
are
summarized
in
the
Chemical
Profile
and
Data
Summary
tables.
Because
the
evaluation
of
data
adequacy
relies
on
a
category
approach,
the
Data
Summary
table
references
Appendix
B
when
data
are
available
for
one
or
more
of
the
other
materials
in
the
category
for
those
data
elements
where
no
potassium
nitrate
data
are
available.
Appendix
B
provides
a
summary
of
the
data
for
all
of
the
nitrate
compounds
in
the
category.
The
individual
1
HPV
Chemical
Challenge
Program;
USEPA
1999
(
http://
www.
epa.
gov/
opptintr/
chemrtk/
volchall.
htm)
2
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
studies
for
potassium
nitrate
itself
are
presented
in
subsequent
pages
of
this
document.
Separate
data
summary
documents
are
available
for
each
of
the
nitrate
compounds
in
the
category.

II.
Rationale
for
the
Nitrate
Compounds
Category
The
nitrate
compounds
category
for
fertilizer
materials
includes
ammonium
nitrate,
nitrogen
solutions
(
primarily
Urea
Ammonia
Nitrogen
[
UAN]),
potassium
nitrate,
sodium
nitrate,
and
potassium
sodium
nitrate.
These
compounds
are
structurally
similar.
In
solution
these
compounds
all
dissociate
into
a
common
nitrate
ion:

To
this
base,
the
compounds
vary
according
to
the
simple
cation
present
(
i.
e.,
K+,
Na+,
NH4
+).
The
six
compounds
have
similar
and
generally
predictable
patterns
of
behavior
in
the
environment
as
well
as
toxicological
properties.
Nitrate
itself
is
less
toxicologically
important
than
is
nitrite.
Nitrate
is
reduced
to
nitrite
by
the
enzyme
nitrate
reductase
which
is
found
in
plants,
certain
bacterial
species,
and
mammalian
gastric
tissues
(
Owens
and
Dubeski
1989).
After
ingestion
nitrates
are
reduced
to
nitrites
by
bacteria
in
the
lower
intestine
of
the
adult
(
L'hirondel
and
L'hirondel
1998).
In
babies,
it
is
this
nitrite
that
can
lead
to
a
condition
called
methemoglobinemia
("
blue
baby
syndrome")
(
Burden
1961).

In
addition
to
methemoglobinemia,
some
evidence
indicates
a
possible
formation
of
N­
nitroso
compounds
in
foods
and
in
tissues
that
contain
excess
nitrates/
nitrites
(
Chow
et
al.
1980).
Nnitroso
compounds
(
e.
g.,
nitrosamines)
are
known
to
be
potent
mutagens/
carcinogens
(
Lijinksy
and
Epstein
1970;
Magee
and
Barnes
1967).
However,
the
quantities
of
nitrosamines
formed
in
mammals
from
nitrates
in
food
are
negligible
and
all
of
the
epidemiological
studies
published
since
1985
concluded
that
there
is
no
positive
correlation
between
nitrate
intakes
and
the
incidence
of
cancer
(
Al­
Dabbagh
et
al.
1986;
Forman
et
al.
1985;
Leclerc
et
al.
1991;
Lijinsky
1989;
Lijinksy
and
Epstein
1970;
Magee
and
Barnes
1967).
In
fact,
some
evidence
suggests
that
nitrates
in
foods
may
actually
play
an
anti­
carcinogenic
role
(
Lijinsky
1989).

In
aquatic
systems,
the
toxicity
of
the
various
nitrate
materials
is
at
least
partially
related
to
the
cationic
composition
of
the
solution,
although
the
available
data
suggest
that
aquatic
toxicity
is
not
a
major
concern
(
Rubin
and
Elmaraghy
1977).

In
terrestrial
systems,
nitrate
absorbed
by
plants
is
reduced
to
nitrite
by
the
enzyme
nitrate
reductase
(
Owens
and
Dubeski
1989).
The
nitrite
will
be
further
reduced
only
when
photosynthesis
and
carbohydrate
synthesis
are
active
(
Owens
and
Dubeski
1989).
Under
drought
conditions,
frost
and
shading,
or
deficiencies
of
other
nutrients,
each
of
which
reduce
photosynthesis
and
biosynthesis
of
protein,
nitrate
continues
to
be
absorbed
and
may
accumulate
in
plant
tissue
(
Owens
and
Dubeski
1989).
Under
most
conditions,
however,
the
nitrate
ion
will
leach
into
the
soil
pore
water
and
become
indistinguishable
from
the
natural
nitrate
already
present.
O
N'

O
O
3
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
III.
Summary
of
Data
Available
for
the
Nitrate
Compounds
Category
Physical­
Chemical
Data
The
density
of
nitrate
compounds
varies
from
0.75­
2.109
g/
mL.
All
nitrate
compounds
are
highly
soluble
in
water
with
solubility
ranging
from
357­
1,920
g/
L
at
20­
25
°
C.
Although
few
vapor
pressure
values
are
available,
based
on
the
fact
that
these
compounds
are
solids,
it
may
be
concluded
that
they
have
low
volatility.
Very
low
octanol/
water
partitioning
coefficients
indicate
a
low
bioaccumulation
potential.

Environmental
Fate
and
Pathway
Nitrate
compounds
biodegrade
in
the
environment
under
certain
conditions.
Their
high
solubility
and
expected
low
volatility
suggest
that
they
are
present
mostly
in
aqueous
solutions.
While
the
cation
may
bind
to
clay
particles
in
the
soil,
the
nitrate
anion
may
show
significant
leaching
to
ground
water.
Nitrate
is
subject
to
plant
uptake
and
loss
from
the
ecosystem
in
runoff
waters
or
by
denitrification.

Ecotoxicity
The
acute
96­
hour
LC50
values
for
fish
range
from
327
mg
NO3/
L
to
greater
than
9,300
mg
NO3/
L.
In
addition,
acute
fish
toxicity
studies
were
conducted
on
nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
and
potassium
sodium
nitrate
under
Good
Laboratory
Practice
(
GLP)
conditions.
The
resultant
LC50
values
were
greater
than
approximately
100
mg/
L,
the
highest
concentrations
tested.
Acute
studies
with
Daphnia
magna
resulted
in
EC50
values
ranging
from
300
to
2,614
mg
NO3/
L.
Chronic
toxicity
studies
on
aquatic
invertebrates
resulted
in
NOEC
values
of
300
mg/
L
and
TLm
values
of
327­
880
mg
NO3/
L.
Algal
toxicity
studies
resulted
in
EC50
values
from
83
to
1,233
mg
NO3/
L.
The
available
ecotoxicity
data
indicate
nitrate
compounds
have
relatively
low
toxicity
to
terrestrial
plants.
Based
on
the
standard
Federal
Insecticide
Fungicide
and
Rodenticide
Act
(
FIFRA)
acute
toxicity
ratings
for
fish
and
Daphnia
(
below),
the
compounds
in
this
category
are
considered
practically
non­
toxic.

EC/
LC50
(
mg/
L)
Toxicity
Description
<
0.1
Very
Highly
Toxic
0.1­
1
Highly
Toxic
1­
10
Moderately
Toxic
10­
100
Slightly
Toxic
>
100
Practically
Non­
Toxic
Mammalian
Toxicity
Acute
toxicity
The
acute
oral
LD50
values
for
mammals
were
reported
as
1,166
mg
NO3/
kg
bw
(
potassium
nitrate)
and
up
to
5,200
mg/
kg
bw
for
most
of
the
remaining
nitrate
compounds.
In
addition,
acute
oral
toxicity
studies
were
conducted
under
GLP
conditions
for
UAN
and
potassium
sodium
nitrate.
Results
of
the
acute
oral
toxicity
studies
for
both
materials
confirmed
that
they
were
of
4
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
low
toxicity
concern
(
LD50
values
>
2000
mg/
kg).
An
acute
inhalation
study
using
ammonium
nitrate
reported
an
LC50
of
>
88.8
mg/
L,
while
a
similar
study
with
dogs
reported
an
NOEC
of
5
mg
NO3/
m3
(
the
only
dose
tested).
Acute
dermal
studies
were
also
conducted
under
GLP
conditions.
The
resultant
LD50s
were
>
5000
mg/
kg
bw
for
both
ammonium
nitrate
and
potassium
nitrate.
Based
on
the
standard
FIFRA
acute
toxicity
ratings
for
mammals
(
below),
the
compounds
in
this
category
are
considered
to
be
of
low
to
very
low
toxicity
(
40
CFR
156.62).

Toxicity
Category
I
II
III
IV
Toxicity
Rating
High
Moderate
Low
Very
Low
Oral
LD50
 
50
mg/
kg
>
50­
500
mg/
kg
>
500­
5000
mg/
kg
>
5000
mg/
kg
Dermal
LC50
 
200
mg/
kg
>
200­
2000
mg/
kg
>
2000­
20,000
mg/
kg
>
20,000
mg/
kg
Inhalation
LC50
 
0.2
mg/
L
>
0.2­
2
mg/
L
>
2­
20
mg/
L
>
20
mg/
L
Genotoxicity
All
nitrate
compounds
tested
negative
for
mutagenicity
using
in
vitro
bacterial
tests.
Positive
responses
were
observed
at
high
doses
(
7.2
mg/
mL)
in
in
vitro
chromosome
aberration
studies
with
sodium
nitrate
only.
In
vivo
assays
were
generally
negative
except
for
sodium
nitrate
at
very
high
doses
(
706
mg
NO3/
kg)..

Repeated
dose
and
developmental
toxicity
Repeat
dose
studies
on
ammonium
nitrate,
potassium
nitrate,
and
sodium
nitrate
indicate
that
materials
in
the
nitrate
category
are
of
low
acute
toxicity.
Developmental
or
teratogenic
toxicity
was
not
observed
for
any
of
the
three
nitrate
materials
for
which
data
were
available.
A
new
repeat
dose
study
on
potassium
nitrate
has
been
conducted
using
the
OECD
Guideline
422
protocol
under
GLP
conditions.
This
study
provides
data
for
three
different
endpoints:
repeat
dose
toxicity,
reproductive
toxicity,
and
developmental
toxicity.
Results
demonstrate
no
adverse
effects
on
general
toxicity,
reproductive
or
developmental
endpoints.
The
resultant
NOAEL
was
1,500
mg/
kg/
day.

IV.
Conclusion
for
the
Nitrate
Compounds
Category
Substantial
literature
data
were
available
for
the
fertilizer
materials
comprising
the
nitrate
compounds
category.
The
exceptions
were
nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
and
potassium
sodium
nitrate
for
which
no
specific
data
were
available.
However,
UAN
is
an
aqueous
solution
of
ammonium
nitrate
and
urea
while
potassium
sodium
nitrate
is
a
simple
blend
of
potassium
nitrate
and
sodium
nitrate.
Extensive
data
are
available
for
those
base
materials
and
are
therefore
applicable
for
characterization
of
the
mixtures.
In
addition,
aquatic
and
mammalian
acute
studies
were
conducted
under
GLP
conditions
to
provide
specific
information
on
UAN
and
potassium
sodium
nitrate.
Additional
studies
were
also
conducted
under
GLP
conditions
on
5
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
ammonium
nitrate
and
potassium
nitrate
to
further
characterize
these
key
materials
in
the
category.
The
existing
data,
and
the
results
from
the
additional
studies,
adequately
characterize
the
nitrate
compounds
category.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
5
TABLE
1:
CATEGORIES
FOR
PRODUCT
TESTING
PROJECT
CATEGORY
COMPOUND
CAS
NUMBER
Ammonia
Compounds
Anhydrous
ammonia
Aqua
ammonia
Ammonium
nitrate
Ammonium
sulfate
Ammonium
thiosulfate
Nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
Ammonium
phosphate
sulfate
Diammonium
phosphate
(
DAP)
Monoammonium
phosphate
(
MAP)
Urea
7664­
41­
7
1336­
21­
6
6484­
52­
2
7783­
20­
2
7783­
18­
8
15978­
77­
5
12593­
60­
1
7783­
28­
0
7722­
76­
1
57­
13­
6
Nitrate
Compounds
Sodium
nitrate
Ammonium
nitrate
Potassium
nitrate
Potassium
sodium
nitrate
Nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
7631­
99­
4
6484­
52­
2
7757­
79­
1
7757­
79­
1/
7631­
99­
4
15978­
77­
5
Phosphate
Compounds
Diammonium
phosphate
(
DAP)
Monoammonium
phosphate
(
MAP)
Liquid
polyphosphate
Single
superphosphate**
Granular
triple
superphosphate**
7783­
28­
0
7722­
76­
1
­­
8011­
76­
5
65996­
95­
4
Salts
Potassium
chloride
Potassium
magnesium
sulfate
Potassium
nitrate
Potassium
sodium
nitrate
Potassium
sulfate
Calcium
sulfate
7447­
40­
7
14168­
73­
1
7757­
79­
1
7757­
79­
1/
7631­
99­
4
7778­
80­
5
7778­
18­
9
Acids
Phosphoric
acid
Nitric
acid
Sulfuric
acid
7664­
38­
2
7697­
37­
2
7664­
93­
9
*
=
Nitrogen
solutions
are
primarily
Urea­
Ammonia­
Nitrogen
(
UAN;
15978­
77­
5)
**
=
Single
superphosphate
and
granular
triple
superphosphate
are
combined
into
a
single
health
and
environmental
safety
data
summary
document.
­­
=
No
CAS
number
readily
available
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
6
V.
REFERENCES
CITED
40
CFR
156.62.
Toxicity
Category.

Al­
Dabbagh,
S.,
Forman,
D.,
Bryson,
D.,
Stratton,
I.
and
Doll,
R.
1986.
Mortality
of
nitrate
fertilizer
workers.
British
Journal
of
Industrial
Medicine.
43:
507­
515.

Burden,
E.
H.
W.
J.
1961.
The
toxicology
of
nitrates
and
nitrites
with
particular
reference
to
the
potability
of
water
supplies.
The
Analyst.
86(
1024):
429­
433.

Chow,
C.
K.,
Chen,
C.
J.
and
Gairola,
C.
1980.
Effect
of
nitrate
and
nitrite
in
drinking
water
in
rats.
Toxicology
Letters.
6:
199­
206.

Forman,
D.,
Al­
Dabbagh,
S.
and
Doll,
R.
1985.
Nitrates,
nitrites
and
gastric
cancer
in
Great
Britain.
Nature.
313(
6004):
620­
625.

Leclerc,
H.,
Vincent,
P.
and
Vandevenne,
P.
1991.
Nitrates
in
drinking
water
and
cancer.
Bull.
Acad.
Natl.
Med.
175(
4):
651­
666.

L'hirondel,
J.,
L'hirondel,
J.
L.
1998.
Nitrates
and
Man:
The
Myth
of
Their
Toxicity.

Lijinsky,
W.
and
Epstein,
S.
S.
1970.
Nitrosamines
as
environmental
carcinogens.
Nature
225(
227):
21­
23.

Lijinsky,
W.
1989.
Environmental
cancer
risks
 
real
and
unreal.
Environmental
Research
50:
207­
209.

Magee,
P.
N.
and
Barnes,
J.
M.
1967.
Carcinogenic
nitroso
compounds.
Adv.
Cancer
Res.
10:
163­
264.

OECD.
1997.
SIDS
Manual.
OECD
Secretariat,
3rd
Revision,
July
1997.

Owens,
F.
N.
and
Dubeski,
P.
1989.
Nitrate
toxicity
in
ruminants.
ASAS
Production
&
Management
Symposium.

Rubin,
A.
J.
and
Elmaraghy,
G.
A.
1977.
Studies
on
the
toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrate
and
their
mixtures
to
guppy
fry.
Water
Research
11:
927­
935.

USEPA.
1999.
Development
of
Chemical
Categories
in
the
HPV
Challenge
Program.
www.
epa.
gove/
chemrtk/
catdoc29.
pdf.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
7
SIDS
DATA
PROFILE
Date:
January
27,
2003
1.01
A.
CAS
No.
7757­
79­
1
1.01
C.
CHEMICAL
NAME
(
OECD
NAME)
Potassium
Nitrate
1.01
D
CAS
DESCRIPTOR
Potassium
Nitrate
1.01
G
STRUCTURAL
FORMULA
KNO3
OTHER
CHEMICAL
IDENTITY
INFORMATION
Not
applicable
1.5
QUANTITY
100,000
­
500,000
tonnes
per
annum
1.7
USE
PATTERN
Primarily
used
as
a
fertilizer.
Also
used
in
fireworks,
fluxes,
pickling
of
meats,
manufacture
of
glass,
matches
and
gunpowder,
treating
tobacco
and
tempering
steel.
1.9
SOURCES
AND
LEVELS
OF
EXPOSURE
Low
human
exposure
is
expected
because
potassium
nitrate
is
manufactured
in
closed
systems.
Exposure
to
dusts
is
possible
during
fertilizer
application.
ISSUES
FOR
DISCUSSION
The
data
for
potassium
nitrate
should
be
evaluated
in
combination
with
the
other
materials
in
the
nitrate
category.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
8
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARY
Date:
January
27,
2003
POTASSIUM
NITRATE
(
CAS
NO.
7757­
79­
1)
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
Melting
Point
344
°
C
2.2
Boiling
Point
400
°
C
at
760
mm
Hg
2.3
Density
2.109
g/
mL
at
16oC
2.4
Vapor
Pressure
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
1.39x10­
15
hPa
at
25
°
C
2.5
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
­
0.79
at
25
°
C
2.6A
Water
Solubility
357
g/
L
at
25
°
C
2.6B
pH
value
~
7
at
25oC
2.7
Flash
Point
Not
applicable
2.8
Auto
Flammability
Not
flammable
2.9
Flammability
Not
flammable
2.10
Explosive
Properties
May
explode
on
contact
with
reducing
agents
and/
or
impact.
2.11
Oxidizing
Properties
Strong
oxidizer
2.12
Oxidation:
Reduction
Potential
See
Appendix
B
results*
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
and
PATHWAY
3.1.1
Photodegradation
Does
not
photodegrade
3.1.2
Stability
in
Water
Stable
3.1.3
Stability
in
Soil
Stable
3.3.2
Distribution
Fugacity
Level
III
(
Mackay
type)
8.34
x10­
9%
to
air
45.3%
to
water
54.7%
to
soil
0.0755%
to
sediment
3.5
Biodegradation
Biodegradable
3.7
Bioaccumulation
Does
not
bioaccumulate
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
Acute
Toxicity
to
Fish
Lepomis
macrochirus
96
hrs
LC50
=
1,839
mg
NO3/
L
4.2
Acute
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Daphnia
magna
48
hrs
TLm
=
300
mg
NO3/
L
4.3
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Plants
(
Algae)
See
text
4.4
Toxicity
to
Bacteria
See
Appendix
B
results*
4.5.1
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Fish
See
Appendix
B
results*
4.5.2
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Nereis
grubei
Neanthes
arenaceodentata
Dorvilliea
articulata
Capitella
capita
TLm
=
327
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
496
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
880
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
713
mg
NO3/
L
4.6.2
Toxicity
to
Terrestrial
Plants
See
text
4.6.3
Toxicity
to
Other
Non­
Mammalian
Terrestrial
Species
See
Appendix
B
results*

*
See
Appendix
B
results
for
data
on
other
chemicals
in
the
nitrate
category.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
9
POTASSIUM
NITRATE
(
CAS
NO.
7757­
79­
1)
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
TOXICITY
5.1.1
Acute
Oral
Toxicity
Rat
Rabbit
Cow,
sheep
Goat
LD50
=
3,750
mg/
kg/
bw
LD50
=
1,166
mg
NO3/
kg
Lethal
dose
(
cow)
=
75­
140
mg
NO3­
N/
kg
Lethal
dose
(
sheep)
=
70
mg
NO3­
N/
kg
LD100
=
1,000­
1,500
mg/
kg
5.1.2
Acute
Inhalation
Toxicity
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.1.3
Acute
Dermal
Toxicity
Rat
LD50
>
5000
mg/
kg
5.1.4
Acute
Toxicity,
Other
Routes
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.2.1
Skin
Irritation/
Corrosion
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.2.2
Eye
Irritation
Corrosion
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.3
Skin
Sensitization
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.4
Repeated
Dose
Toxicity
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
5.5
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vitro
Bacterial
reverse
mutation
assay
Bacillus
subtilis
recombination
assay
Negative
Negative
5.6
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vivo
Rat
10
weeks
Negative
5.7
Carcinogenicity
See
Appendix
B
results*
5.8
Toxicity
to
Reproduction
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
Guinea
pig
One­
generation
study
NOAEL
Parental
=
10,000
ppm
NOAEL
F1
Offspring
=
10,000
ppm
Rat
Two­
generation
study
NOAEL
Parental
=
2.5%

5.9
Developmental
Toxicity/
Teratogenicity
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
Mouse
oral;
10
day
exposure
NOAEL
>
400
mg/
kg
bw
5.11
Human
Experience
See
text
1.8
Occupational
Exposure
Limits
TLV
as
inert
dust
15
mg/
m3
*
See
Appendix
B
results
for
data
on
other
chemicals
in
the
nitrate
category.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
10
1.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
1.01
SUBSTANCE
INFORMATION
A.
CAS
number
7757­
79­
1
B.
Name
(
IUPAC
name)
Potassium
nitrate
C.
Name
(
OECD
name)
Potassium
nitrate
D.
CAS
Descriptor
Not
applicable
E.
EINECS
Number
231­
818­
8
F.
Molecular
Formula
KNO3
G.
Structural
Formula
KNO3
SMILES:
O(
N(=
O)=
O)
K
H.
Substance
Group
Not
applicable
I.
Substance
Remark
None
J.
Molecular
Weight
101.1
1.02
OECD
INFORMATION
A.
Sponsor
Country
Not
applicable
B.
Lead
Organization
Not
applicable
C.
Name
of
Responder
Name:
Mr.
William
C.
Herz,
Director
of
Scientific
Programs
Address/
Phones:
The
Fertilizer
Institute
Union
Center
Plaza
820
First
Street,
NE,
Suite
430
Washington,
DC
20002
USA
Tel:
(
202)
962­
0490
Fax:
(
202)
962­
0577
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
11
1.1
GENERAL
SUBSTANCE
INFORMATION
A.
Type
of
Substance
element
[
];
inorganic
[
X];
natural
substance
[
];
organic
[
];
organometallic
[
];
petroleum
product
[
]

B.
Physical
State
(
at
20
°
C
and
1.013
hPa)

gaseous
[
];
liquid
[
];
solid
[
X]

1.2
SYNONYMS
Nitrate
of
potash
Potassium
salt
nitric
acid
Saltpeter
Nitric
acid,
potassium
salt
1.3
IMPURITIES
None
identified
1.4
ADDITIVES
None
identified
1.5
QUANTITY
Remarks:
500,000
to
1,000,000
tonnes
per
annum.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

1.6
LABELING
AND
CLASSIFICATION
DOT
Labeling
Hazard
Class:
5.1
NFPA
Rating
Health:
1
(
minimal
hazard)
Fire:
0
(
no
hazard)
Reactivity:
3
(
severe
hazard)
Specific:
oxidizer
References:
1)
Mallinckrodt
Baker,
Inc.
1999.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet
No.
P5950:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
November
17,
1999.
2)
NIOSH,
IPCS,
International
Chemical
Safety
Cards
(#
0184).
Potassium
Nitrate.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
12
1.7
USE
PATTERN
A.
General
Type
of
Use:
Category:

(
a)
main
Wide
dispersive
use
industrial
Agriculture
use
Fertilizer
(
b)
main
Non­
dispersive
use
industrial
Personal
and
domestic
use
use
Fireworks,
fluxes,
pickling
of
meats,
manufacture
of
glass,
matches,
gunpowder,
and
blasting
powders,
treating
tobacco,
tempering
steel
Remarks:
About
86%
for
fertilizer,
6%
in
heat
transfer
salts,
4%
in
glass
and
ceramics,
2%
in
matches
and
pyrotechnics
(=
1975).
Reference:
Hazardous
Substances
Data
Bank
(
HSDB).
1999.
Potassium
Nitrate.
National
Library
of
Medicine,
Bethesda,
MD.

B.
Uses
in
Consumer
Products
No
consumer
product
uses.

1.8
OCCUPATIONAL
EXPOSURE
LIMIT
VALUE
Exposure
limit
value
Type:
OSHA
PEL
Value:
15
mg/
m3
total
dust;
5
mg/
m3
respirable
fraction.
Remark:
No
specific
limit
has
been
set,
however,
the
federal
OSHA
PEL
for
particulates
not
otherwise
regulated
applies
to
all
fertilizer
dusts.
Regulated
limits
may
vary
in
local
jurisdictions.

1.9
SOURCES
OF
EXPOSURE
Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
can
be
absorbed
into
the
body
by
inhalation
of
its
aerosol
and
by
ingestion,
although
significant
human
and
environmental
exposures
during
manufacture
are
unlikely
if
the
process
is
well
managed.
Engineering
controls
such
as
mechanical
ventilation,
process
or
personnel
enclosure,
control
of
process
conditions,
and
process
modifications
significantly
reduce
exposure.
Local
exhaust
(
ventilation)
control
as
close
to
the
point
of
generation
is
both
the
most
economical
and
safest
method
to
minimize
personnel
exposure
to
airborne
concentrations.
Personal
protective
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
13
equipment
includes
neoprene
or
nitrile
gloves,
dusk
masks
or
fume
hoods
as
appropriate,
chemical
safety
goggles,
and
impervious
apron,
sleeves
and
boots.
Field
exposure
to
workers
is
possible
when
handling
and
using
on
farms
as
a
fertilizer.
However,
fertilizers
are
applied
by
mechanical
spreaders,
which
reduces
contact
exposure.
Environmental
releases
are
controlled
at
the
manufacturing
plant.
Gaseous
emissions
are
low
due
to
use
of
scrubbers
and
liquid
effluent
is
recovered
as
much
as
possible.
Exposure
to
environmental
receptors
is
dependent
on
the
amount
used
as
fertilizer
on
fields,
the
climatic
conditions,
and
the
hydrological
conditions
of
the
area
of
application.
Nitrate
materials
are
common
in
the
environment
and
are
essential
nutrients
for
both
plants
and
animals.

1.10
ADDITIONAL
REMARKS
Options
for
disposal
Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
must
be
disposed
of
in
accordance
with
federal,
state
and
local
environmental
control
regulations.
Generally
it
is
sufficient
to
mix
the
material
with
wet
sand,
transfer
to
a
container
and
arrange
removal
by
a
disposal
company.
References:
BDH,
INC.
2000.
Material
safety
Data
Sheet:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
September
28,
2000.

2.
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
MELTING
POINT
Value:
334
°
C
Decomposition:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
Ambiguous
[
X]
Sublimation:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
Ambiguous
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
Lide,
D.
R.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
78th
Ed.
1998.
New
York,
Lewis
Publishers
2.2
BOILING
POINT
Value:
400
°
C
Pressure:
at
760
mm
Hg
Decomposition:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
Ambiguous
[
]
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
14
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
1)
International
Chemical
Safety
Cards:
0184,
Third
Series,
Commission
of
the
European
Communities,
1991.
2)
Lide,
D.
R.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
78th
ed.
1998.
New
York,
Lewis
Publishers.

2.3
DENSITY
(
Relative
Density)

Type:
Bulk
density
[
];
Density
[
X];
Relative
Density
[
]
Value:
2.109
g/
mL
Temperature:
16
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
Lide,
D.
R.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
78th
ed.
1998.
New
York,
Lewis
Publishers.

2.4
VAPOR
PRESSURE
Value:
1.39x10­
15
hPa
Temperature:
25
°
C
Method:
Calculated
[
X];
measured
[
]
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
Estimated
using
EPISUITE
V.
3.10.
References:
USEPA.
2000.
EPISUITE
Estimation
Software.
V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.

2.5
PARTITION
COEFFICIENT
logPow
Log
Pow:
­
0.79
Temperature:
25
°
C
Method:
Calculated
[
X];
measured
[
]
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
Estimated
using
EPISUITE
V.
3.10.
References:
USEPA.
2000.
EPISUITE
Estimation
Software.
V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.

2.6
WATER
SOLUBILITY
A.
Solubility
(
a)
Value:
357
g/
L
(
water)
Temperature:
25
°
C
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
15
Description:
Miscible
[
];
Of
very
high
solubility
[
];
Of
high
solubility
[
X];
Soluble
[
];
Slightly
soluble
[
]
Of
low
solubility
[
];
Of
very
low
solubility
[
];
Not
soluble
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Remarks:
Soluble
in
glycerol;
insoluble
in
alcohol.
References:
Budavari,
S.
1996.
Merck
Index.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

(
b)
Value:
133
g/
L
at
0oC
2470
g/
L
at
100oC
Description:
Miscible
[
];
Of
very
high
solubility
[
X];
Of
high
solubility
[
];
Soluble
[
];
Slightly
soluble
[
]
Of
low
solubility
[
];
Of
very
low
solubility
[
];
Not
soluble
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
Lide,
D.
R.
1998.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
178th
Ed.
New
York,
Lewis
Publishers.

B.
pH
Value
pH
Value:
~
7
Concentration:
Not
specified
Temperature:
25
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
Budavari,
S.
1996.
Merck
Index.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

2.7
FLASH
POINT
(
liquids)

Remarks:
Not
applicable.

2.8
AUTO
FLAMMABILITY
(
solid/
gases)

Remarks:
Not
flammable.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
16
2.9
FLAMMABILITY
Results:
Extremely
flammable
[
];
Extremely
flammable
 
liquified
gas
[
];
Highly
flammable
[
];
Flammable
[
];
Non
flammable
[
X];
Spontaneously
flammable
in
air
[
];
Contact
with
water
liberates
highly
flammable
gases
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Remarks:
According
to
the
National
Fire
Protection
Agency
(
NFPA),
potassium
nitrate
has
a
flammability
of
0,
which
includes
any
material
that
will
not
burn.
However,
potassium
nitrate
can
yield
gaseous
oxides
of
nitrogen
when
involved
in
fire.
References:
NFPA.
1986.
Protection
Guide
for
Hazardous
Materials.
9th
Ed.

2.10
EXPLOSIVE
PROPERTIES
Results:
Explosive
under
influence
of
a
flame
[
];
More
sensitive
to
friction
than
m­
dinitrobenzene
[
];
More
sensitive
to
shock
than
m­
dinitrobenzene
[
];
Not
explosive
[
];
Other
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Remarks:
There
is
a
risk
of
fire
or
explosion
on
contact
with
reducing
agents
and/
or
impact.
References:
NIOSH,
IPCS,
International
Chemical
Safety
Cards.
Potassium
Nitrate:
No.
0184.

2.11
OXIDIZING
PROPERTIES
Remarks:
On
contact
with
hot
surfaces
this
substance
decomposes
forming
nitrogen
oxides,
which
increases
fire
hazard.
The
substance
is
a
strong
oxidant
and
reacts
at
high
temperatures
with
combustible
and
reducing
materials.
It
is
incompatible
with
heavy
metals,
phosphites,
strong
acids,
aluminum,
aluminum
oxide
and
acetic
anhydride,
causing
fire
and
explosion
hazard.
References:
1)
BDH,
INC.
2000.
Material
safety
Data
Sheet:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
September
28,
2000.
2)
Mallinckrodt
Baker,
Inc.
1999.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet
No.
P5950:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
November
17,
1999.
3)
NIOSH,
IPCS,
International
Chemical
Safety
Cards:
No.
0184.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
17
2.12
OXIDATION:
REDUCTION
POTENTIAL
Remarks:
No
data
available.

3.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
AND
PATHWAYS
3.1
STABILITY
3.1.1
PHOTODEGRADATION
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Does
not
photodegrade.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

3.1.2
STABILITY
IN
WATER
Type:
Abiotic
(
hydrolysis)
[
X];
biotic
(
sediment)
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
solubilized
in
water
is
completely
dissociated
into
potassium
and
nitrate
ions.
In
pure
water
both
ions
are
stable
at
normal
temperatures.
In
natural
waters
the
ions
can
participate
in
absorption
and
ion
exchange
processes
and
the
nitrate­
ion
is
under
anaerobic
conditions
both
chemical
degradable
and
biodegradable.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

3.1.3
STABILITY
IN
SOIL
Type:
Field
trial
[
];
Laboratory
[
];
Other
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
In
completely
dry
soil,
potassium
nitrate
is
probably
stable
at
all
normal
temperatures.
As
water
content
in
the
soil
increases,
potassium
nitrate
will
easily
solubilize
in
the
soil
solution
and
dissociate
completely
into
its
ions.
Both
ions
can
participate
in
absorption
and
ion
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
18
exchange
processes.
Under
anaerobic
conditions,
the
nitrate
ion
is
chemically
and
biologically
degradable.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

3.2
MONITORING
DATA
(
ENVIRONMENTAL)

Type
of
measurement:
Background
[
X];
At
contaminated
site
[
];
Other
[
]
Media:
All
Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
is
not
measured
in
the
environment
because
it
cannot
be
distinguished
from
other
nitrates
present.
However,
nitrate
occurs
in
all
compartments
of
the
environment
(
air,
water,
soil,
sediments,
and
biota)
and
comes
from
many
different
sources
as
a
result
of
both
natural
processes
and
man­
made
processes.
Only
a
very
small
part
of
nitrates
occurring
in
the
general
environment
will
normally
originate
from
potassium
nitrate.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

3.2
TRANSPORT
AND
DISTRIBUTION
BETWEEN
ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPARTMENTS
INCLUDING
ESTIMATED
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCENTRATIONS
AND
DISTRIBUTION
PATHWAYS
3.3.1
TRANSPORT
Remarks:
No
data
available.

3.3.2
THEORETICAL
DISTRIBUTION
(
FUGACITY
CALCULATION)

Method:
Fugacity
level
I
[
];
Fugacity
level
II
[
];
Fugacity
level
III
(
Mackay
type)
[
X];
Fugacity
level
IV
[
];
Other
(
calculation)
[
];
Other
(
measurement)
[
]
Mass
Distribution
by
Environmental
Compartment:
Air
8.34
x
10­
9%
Water
45.3%
Soil
54.7%
Sediment
0.0755%
References:
USEPA.
2000.
EPISUITE
Estimation
Software.
V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
19
3.4
IDENTIFICATION
OF
MAIN
MODE
OF
DEGRADABILITY
IN
ACTUAL
USE
Remarks:
The
majority
of
the
potassium
nitrate
used
as
fertilizer
is
removed
from
the
growing
media
by
the
crops.
For
any
excess,
the
main
mode
of
degradation
is
biodegradation
or
chemical
degradation
of
the
nitrate.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

3.5
BIODEGRADATION
(
a)
Remarks:
Biodegradation
of
nitrate
can
occur
under
anaerobic
conditions,
both
under
natural
conditions
and
as
a
controlled
process
in
many
wastewater
treatment
plants,
resulting
in
degradation
products
like
nitrate,
oxide
of
nitrogen,
elemental
nitrogen,
or
ammonia.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

(
b)
Type:
Aerobic
[
];
Anaerobic
[
];
Estimated
[
X]
Results:
Readily
biodeg.
[
];
Inherently
biodeg.
[
X];
Under
test
condition
no
biodegradation
observed
[
];
Other
[
]
Method:
Estimated
using
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
The
probability
of
rapid
biodegradation
according
to
the
linear
model
and
non­
linear
model
is
0.6994
and
0.8282,
respectively.
According
to
the
primary
survey
model,
biodegradation
of
the
parent
compound
takes
days
to
weeks.
The
ultimate
survey
model
estimated
complete
biodegradation
takes
weeks.
References:
USEPA.
2000.
EPISUITE
Estimation
Software.
V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.

3.6
BOD5,
COD
OR
RATIO
BOD5/
COD
Remarks:
No
data
available.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
20
3.7
BIOACCUMULATION
Remarks:
The
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
program
estimated
a
log
BCF
of
0.5
(
BCF
=
3.162)
based
on
an
estimated
log
Kow
of
0.21.
In
general,
the
measurement
of
BCF
is
not
applicable
for
highly
water
soluble
compounds
like
potassium
nitrate.

3.8
ADDITIONAL
REMARKS
Soil
organic
carbon
partition
coefficient:
Koc
=
14.3
Remarks:
Estimated
using
EPISUITE
V.
3.10.
References:
USEPA.
2000.
EPISUITE
Estimation
Software.
V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.

4.
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
ACUTE/
PROLONGED
TOXICITY
TO
FISH
(
a)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
X];
Semi­
static
[
];
Flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
X];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Lepomis
macrochirus
(
bluegill)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50(
96­
h)
=
3,000
mg
KNO3/
L
(
1,839
mg
NO3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Five
gallon
jars
were
placed
in
a
constant
temperature
bath
(
20oC).
Ten
fish
were
placed
in
each
container
and
tests
were
run
in
duplicate
for
every
concentration.
Concentration
ranged
from
2,100
to
4,200
mg
KNO3/
L.
A
control
group
was
maintained
with
every
series
of
test.
The
pH
for
the
various
concentrations
ranged
from
7.47
to
8.55.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Analytical
or
reagent
grade
potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3).
Remarks:
No
fish
died
at
2,100
mg
KNO3/
L.
At
2,400
mg
KNO3/
L,
the
average
survival
rate
was
80%
at
96­
h.
At
4,200
mg
KNO3/
L
and
96­
hours,
there
was
100%
mortality.
References:
Trama,
F.
B.,
1954.
The
acute
toxicity
of
some
common
salts
of
sodium,
potassium
and
calcium
to
the
common
bluegill.
Proc.
Acad.
Nat.
Sci.
Philadelphia.
106:
185­
205.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
21
(
b)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
X];
Semi­
static
[
];
Flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
X];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Gambusia
affinis
(
mosquito
fish)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
TLm
=
162
mg/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
The
main
subject
of
this
study
was
to
study
the
toxicity
of
pure
chemicals
(
potentially
occurring
in
refinery
wastes)
in
turbid
waters
(
turbidity
caused
by
sub­
soil
clay).
References:
Wallen,
I.
E.,
Greer,
W.
C.,
and
Lasater,
R.
1957.
Stream
pollution.
Toxicity
to
Gambusia
affinis
of
certain
pure
chemicals
in
turbid
waters.
Sewage
and
Industrial
Wastes
29(
6):
695­
711.

(
c)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
X];
Semi­
static
[
];
Flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
X];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Poecilia
reticulata
(
guppy)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
=
191
mg
N/
L
(
1378
mg
KNO3/
L;
845
mg
NO3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Fry
were
exposed
to
a
series
of
concentrations
of
potassium
nitrate
using
aged
tap
water
kept
at
25oC.
Tests
were
conducted
in
5
gallon
aquaria
holding
10
or
20
fish,
6­
11
mm
in
length.
Mortality
and
other
observations
were
made
at
24,
48,
72
and
96
hours.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Additional
studies
with
ammonia
alone
and
mixtures
of
ammonia
and
potassium
nitrate
indicated
that
the
toxicities
were
simply
additive
except
at
very
low
ammonia
to
nitrate
ratios.
References:
Rubin,
A.
J.
and
Elmaraghy,
G.
A.
1977.
Studies
on
toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrate
and
their
mixtures
to
guppy
fry.
Water
Res.
11(
10):
927­
935.

4.2
ACUTE
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
INVERTEBRATES
A.
Daphnia
(
a)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
X];
Semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
X];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Daphnia
magna
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
22
Exposure
period:
48­
hours
Results:
TLm
=
490
mg/
L
(
300
mg
NO3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
As
per
Anderson,
B.
G.,
Andrews,
T.
F.,
Chandler,
D.
G.,
and
Jahoda,
W.
J.
1948.
The
evaluation
of
aquatic
invertebrates
as
assay
organisms
for
the
determination
of
toxicity
of
industrial
wastes.
Report
from
Ohio
State
University
Research
Foundation
to
the
American
Petroleum
Institute,
New
York.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Dilution
water
was
glass­
wool
filtered
University
Lake
water.
Although
48
hour
studies
are
standard
for
D.
magna,
96
hour
results
were
also
reported.
96­
h
TLm
of
39
mg/
L
was
found
when
University
Lake
water
was
used.
However,
a
96­
h
TLm
of
900
mg/
L
was
found
if
the
supporting
media
is
"
standard
reference
water".
References:
Dowden,
B.
F.
and
Bennett,
H.
J.
1965.
Toxicity
of
selected
chemicals
to
certain
animals.
Journal
Water
Pollution
Control
Federation
37(
9):
1308­
1316.

4.3
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
PLANTS,
e.
g.
algae
(
a)
Species:
Diatoms
(
10
species)
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
10­
days
Results:
Relative
rates
(
as
%
chlorophyll
a)
were:

Nitrate
concentration
(
mmol/
L)
Species
0.1
0.68
3.38
6.75
16.9
Navicula
arenaria
80
95
100
107
94
Nitzschia
c.
f.
dissipata
84
94
100
83
67
Nitzschia
dubiformis
67
84
100
100
34
Nitzschia
closterium
54
65
65
85
100
Amphiprora
c.
f.
paludosa
71
89
86
100
39
Stauroneis
constricta
52
92
98
102
100
Navicula
cryptocephala
61
82
73
100
84
Navicula
salinarum
65
73
89
100
86
Gyrosigma
spencerii
76
100
100
91
70
Nitzschia
sigma
92
75
100
98
58
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Ten
cultures
of
benthic
diatoms
were
isolated
from
field
samples
from
Eems
Dollard
Estuary
(
The
Netherlands).
The
growth
rate
was
determined
as
%
chlorophyll
a
in
diatoms
grown
in
an
artificial
sea
water
medium
containing
increasing
amounts
of
potassium
nitrate.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
23
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Most
of
the
species
grew
well
at
nitrate
concentrations
up
to
16.9
mmol/
L.
Nitrate
was
clearly
inhibitory
to
Nitzschia
dubiformis
and
Amphiprora
c.
f.
paludosa
only
at
the
highest
test
concentration.
References:
Admiral,
W.
1977.
Tolerance
of
estuarine
benthic
diatoms
to
high
concentrations
of
ammonia,
nitrite
ion,
nitrate
ion
and
orthophosphate.
Marine
Biology
43:
307­
315.

(
b)
Species:
Potamogeton
lucens
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
leafy
injury)
Exposure
period:
20­
days
Results:
The
aquatic
macrophyte
shows
no
injury
to
leaves
of
either
intact
plants
or
detached
branches
after
20­
days
in
test
water
containing
108
ppm
KNO3
(
15
ppm
N).
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
];
?
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Litau,
M.
and
Lehrer,
Y.
1978.
The
effect
of
ammonium
in
water
on
Potamogeton
lucens.
Aquatic
Botany
5:
127­
138.

4.4
TOXICITY
TO
BACTERIA
Remarks:
No
data
available.

4.5
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
ORGANISMS
4.5.1
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
FISH
Remarks:
No
data
available.

4.5.2
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
INVERTEBRATES
(
a)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
];
Semi­
static
[
];
Flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Nereis
grubei,
Neanthes
arenaceodentata,
Dorvilliea
articulata,
Capitella
capita
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
28­
days
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
24
Results:
TLm
(
N.
grubei)
=
534
mg
KNO3/
L
(
327
mg
NO3/
L)
TLm
(
N.
arenaceodentata)
=
809
mg
KNO3/
L
(
496
mg
NO3/
L)
TLm
(
D.
articulata)
=
1,436
mg
KNO3/
L
(
880
mg
NO3/
L)
TLm
(
C.
capita)
=
1,163
mg
KNO3/
L
(
713
mg
NO3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Reisk,
D.
J.
1970.
The
effect
of
varying
concentrations
of
nutrients,
chlorinity
and
dissolved
oxygen
in
Polychaetous
annelis.
Water
Research
4(
11):
721­
745.

(
b)
Type
of
test:
Static
[
];
Semi­
static
[
];
Flow­
through
[
];
Other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
]
Open­
system
[
];
Closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Hydra
attenuata
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
12­
days
Results:
At
81.5
mg
KNO3/
L
(
50
mg
NO3/
L)
and
245
(
150
mg
NO3/
L)
mg
KNO3/
L
the
growth
rate
was
similar
or
slightly
superior
to
that
of
the
controls.
At
408
mg
KNO3/
L
the
rate
of
growth
was
considerably
retarded,
but
clubbing
of
tentacles
was
not
observed.
Potassium
nitrate
was
found
to
be
the
least
toxic
of
the
three
nitrates
(
KNO3,
NaNO3,
(
NH4)
2NO3)
tested
with
a
NOEL
between
245
and
408
mg
KNO3/
L.
The
cation
exerted
a
considerable
influence
on
the
toxicity
of
the
nitrate
solutions
tested.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
];
No
[
X];
?
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Reproduction
rate
measured
as
numbers
of
Hydra
at
a
given
time.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

4.6
TOXICITY
TO
TERRESTRIAL
ORGANISMS
4.6.1
TOXICITY
TO
SOIL
DWELLING
ORGANISMS
Remarks:
No
data
available.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
25
4.6.2
TOXICITY
TO
TERRESTRIAL
PLANTS
Remarks:
Nitrate
absorbed
by
plants
is
reduced
to
nitrite
by
the
enzyme
nitrate
reductase.
This
enzyme
is
found
in
plants,
certain
bacterial
species,
and
mammalian
gastric
tissue.
The
nitrite
will
be
further
reduced
only
when
photosynthesis
and
carbohydrate
synthesis
are
active.
Under
drought
conditions,
frost
and
shading,
or
deficiencies
of
other
nutrients,
each
of
which
reduce
photosynthesis
and
biosynthesis
of
protein,
nitrate
continues
to
be
absorbed
and
may
accumulate
in
plant
tissue.
References:
Owens,
F.
N.
and
Dubeski,
P.
1989.
Nitrate
toxicity
in
ruminants.
ASAS
Production
and
Management
Symposium.

4.6.3
TOXICITY
TO
OTHER
NON
MAMMALIAN
TERRESTRIAL
SPECIES
(
INCLUDING
AVIAN)

Remarks:
No
data
available.

4.7
BIOLOGICAL
EFFECTS
MONITORING
(
INCLUDING
BIOMAGNIFICATION)

Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
provides
nutrients
to
animals
and
plants
and
does
not
biomagnify.

4.8
BIOTRANSFORMATION
AND
KINETICS
Remarks:
The
transformation
of
nitrate
compounds
is
well
known.

5.
TOXICITY
5.1
ACUTE
TOXICITY
5.1.1
ACUTE
ORAL
TOXICITY
(
a)
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
];
LD50
[
X];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Rat
Value:
3,750
mg/
kg
bw.
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
26
References:
Nippon
Yakurigaku
Zasshi.
1983.
81:
469
(
cited
in
RTECS
and
European
Commission
1996).

(
b)
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
];
LD50
[
X];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Rabbit
Value:
1,166
mg
NO3/
kg
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Dollahite,
R.
1974.
Southwest
Vet.
27:
246.
(
cited
in
Budavari
1996
and
Hazardous
Substances
Data
Bank
(
HSDB).
1999.
Potassium
Nitrate.
National
Library
of
Medicine,
Bethesda,
MD.).

(
c)
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
X];
LD50
[
];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Cow,
sheep,
pig
Value:
Lethal
dose
(
cow)
=
75­
140
mg
NO3­
N/
kg
Lethal
dose
(
sheep)
=
70
mg
NO3­
N/
kg
Method:
various
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Heavy
mortality
has
been
recorded
among
pigs
consuming
290
to
495
ppm
NO3­
N.
References:
Burden,
E.
H.
W.
J.
1961.
The
toxicology
of
nitrates
and
nitrites
with
particular
reference
to
the
potability
of
water
supplies.
The
Analyst.
86(
1024):
429­
433.

(
d)
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
X];
LD50
[
];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Goat
Value:
1,000
 
1,500
mg/
kg
bw.
Method:
Potassium
nitrate
was
given
in
large
quantities
(
1.0­
1.2
g/
kg)
to
goats
in
order
to
study
the
in­
vivo
mechanism
of
acute
nitrate
poisoning.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
The
fatal
dose
was
estimated
to
be
1.0­
1.5
g/
kg.
The
mean
time
for
death
to
occur
after
the
administration
was
14
hours
4
minutes
and
was
not
dose­
related.
MHb
gradually
increased
after
administration
in
all
subjects
and
reached
a
maximum
(
62.6%)
just
prior
to
death.
In
the
surviving
goats,
MHb
gradually
increased
after
administration,
reached
a
maximum,
and
then
gradually
decreased
and
disappeared.
Nitrate
in
the
rumen
juice
showed
a
maximum
value
(
560­
3,847
ppm)
after
the
first
administration.
Higher
levels
were
detected
in
the
groups
receiving
larger
doses,
and
then
part
of
the
nitrate
in
the
rumen
juice
was
reduced
to
nitrite.
It
increased
slightly
preceding
MHb.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
27
In
the
dead
animals
it
reached
a
maximum
(
190.3
ppm)
just
before
death.
It
was
noted
that
the
influence
of
ammonia
poisoning
had
to
be
considered
in
goats
among
the
above­
described
NH3­
N
in
which
more
than
50
mg/
dL
was
detected.
Nitrate
and
nitrite
quickly
absorbed
into
the
blood
and
excreted
into
the
urine.
Many
of
the
goats
maintained
high
levels
of
nitrate
during
the
experiment.
The
behavior
of
nitrite
in
the
blood
and
urine
varied
with
MHb,
though
the
amount
detected
was
very
small
(
18.6
ppm).
The
blood
oxygen
pressure
showed
a
very
high
negative
correlation
with
MHb.
In
the
dead
goats
in
the
PO2
declined
following
the
increase
of
MHb
showing
minimum
level
(
12.8
mm
Hg)
just
before
death.
The
main
cause
of
death
by
acute
nitrate
poisoning
is
concluded
to
be
oxygen
shortage.
References:
Horio,
M.
1982.
Experimental
clinico­
physiological
studies
on
the
poisoning
of
nitrate
in
ruminants.
1.
Changes
in
methaemoglobin
formation
and
some
medicochemical
properties
of
goats
after
administration
of
potassium
nitrate.
Bulletin.
Nippon
Veterinary
Zootechnical
College
0(
31):
75­
87.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

5.1.2
ACUTE
INHALATION
TOXICITY
Remarks:
No
data
available.

5.1.3
ACUTE
DERMAL
TOXICITY
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
];
LD50
[
X
];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Sprague­
Dawley
rat,
albino
Value:
>
5,000
mg/
kg
Method:
OECD
402,
1987.
Limit
test
(
5
males/
5
females).
Potassium
nitrate
was
applied
to
the
shaved
intact
skin
on
the
backs
of
each
rat
and
covered
with
a
gauze
pad.
After
24
hours
the
pads
were
removed
and
the
area
gently
washed
with
water.
GLP:
Yes
[
X
]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
white
granules)
Remarks:
Prior
to
application,
the
test
substance
was
ground
in
a
coffee
mill
and
moistened
to
achieve
a
dry
paste
by
preparing
an
85%
w/
w
mixture.
All
animals
survived,
gained
weight
and
appeared
active
and
healthy
throughout
the
test.
No
signs
of
toxicity
were
observed.
References:
Merkel,
D.
J.
2000.
Acute
dermal
toxicity
study
in
ratslimit
test.
Product
Safety
Labs
study
number
9742.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
28
5.1.4
ACUTE
TOXICITY
BY
OTHER
ROUTES
OF
ADMINISTRATION
Remarks:
No
data
available.

5.2
CORROSIVENESS/
IRRITATION
5.2.1
SKIN
IRRITATION/
CORROSION
Remarks:
No
data
available.

5.2.2
EYE
IRRITATION/
CORROSION
Remarks:
No
data
available.

5.3
SKIN
SENSITIZATION
Remarks:
No
data
available.

5.4
REPEATED
DOSE
TOXICITY
Species:
Rat
Sex/
Strain:
Male/
Female
Crl:
CD(
SD)
IGS
BR
Route
of
Administration:
Gavage
Exposure
Period:
Animals
on
the
study
were
divided
between
two
subgroups
(
toxicity
and
reproductive
subgroups).
The
exposure
period
for
males
and
females
in
the
toxicity
subgroup
was
28
days.
The
exposure
period
for
reproductive
subgroup
males
was
at
most
28
days.
The
exposure
period
for
reproductive
subgroup
females
was
at
most
53
days
(
14
days
pre­
mating,
14
days
mating,
and
gestational
and
lactational
periods
up
to
lactation
day
4).
Frequency
of
Treatment:
Daily
Doses:
0,
250,
750,
and
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
(
Doses
were
selected
based
on
parameters
assessed
in
a
range­
finding
study
at
concentrations
up
to
1,000
mg/
kg/
day)
NOAEL:
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
(
general
toxicity)
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
(
reproduction/
developmental
toxicity)
LOAEL:
No
adverse
effects
were
seen
on
general
toxicity
endpoints.
No
adverse
effects
were
seen
on
reproduction/
developmental
toxicity
endpoints
GLP:
Yes
Method:
Toxicity
subgroup:
Animals
comprising
the
toxicity
subgroup
(
5
males
and
5
females
per
dose
group)
were
administered
KNO3
for
28
days
(
7
days/
week)
via
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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gavage
administration.
Among
toxicity
subgroup
animals,
functional
observations
(
sensory
reactivity,
grip
strength,
motor
activity)
were
conducted
during
the
final
days
of
treatment.
Bleeds
for
hematology
and
blood
chemistry
were
conducted
on
Day
28
of
treatment.
Organ
weights
were
recorded
at
termination
and
major
organs
and
tissues
(
and
any
other
abnormalities
observed
at
necropsy)
were
processed
for
microscopic
examination.
Reproductive
subgroup:
Male
rats
(
5
males)
in
the
reproductive
subgroup
were
administered
KNO3
for
28
days
via
oral
gavage.
Female
rats
(
10
females)
in
the
reproductive
subgroup
were
administered
KNO3
for
a
period
encompassing
approximately
53
continuous
days
via
oral
gavage:
14
days
of
initial
treatment,
plus
a
maximum
of
14
days
of
cohabitation
to
ensure
mating,
and
25
days
to
litter
and
rear
their
young
until
Day
4
of
age.
Histology
for
reproductive
subgroup
animals
was
restricted
to
retained
reproductive
organs
(
and
any
other
abnormalities
observed
at
necropsy).
Result:
Toxicity
subgroup:
There
were
no
treatment­
related
deaths
and
no
signs
of
overt
clinical
toxicity.
There
were
no
effects
on
body
weight,
food
consumption,
or
food
efficiency.
Functional
observational
battery
(
FOB)
and
motor
activity
tests
identified
no
treatment­
related
changes
in
behavior,
function,
or
motor
activity.
A
slight
increase
in
blood
urea
nitrogen
was
observed
in
male
and
female
rats
at
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
and
in
female
rats
at
750
mg/
kg/
day.
Although
outside
the
range
of
the
historical
control,
the
absence
of
other
indicators
of
renal
dysfunction
(
e.
g.,
creatinine)
discounted
the
clinical
significance
of
this
endpoint.
Minimal
changes
in
electrolyte
levels
in
male
rats
(
e.
g.,
10%
decrease
in
potassium,
4%
decrease
in
calcium,
and
22%
increase
in
phosphorus)
and
female
rats
(
3%
decrease
in
chloride,
4%
decrease
in
magnesium)
were
observed
at
1,500
mg/
kg/
day.
These
changes
were
within
the
range
of
historical
control
and
were
not
considered
to
be
of
biological
significance.
No
treatment­
related
histopathological
changes
were
reported.
Reproductive
subgroup:
There
were
no
treatmentrelated
deaths
and
no
signs
of
overt
clinical
toxicity.
There
were
no
effects
on
body
weight,
food
consumption,
or
food
efficiency.
Mating
performance
and
fertility
were
unaffected
by
treatment.
All
animals
mated
within
4
days.
There
were
no
treatment­
related
effects
on
gestation
length,
gestation
index,
litter
size,
offspring
survival
indices,
sex
ration,
offspring
bodyweight,
or
macropathology
for
offspring.
Test
Substance:
Potassium
Nitrate
(
KNO3)
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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Reference:
Product
Safety
Laboratories.
2002.
Potassium
Nitrate:
Combined
Repeated
Dose
Toxicity
Study
With
the
Reproduction/
Developmental
Toxicity
Screening
Test
(
Oral
Gavage
Study
in
Rats).
Study
Number
11686.

5.5
GENETIC
TOXICITY
IN
VITRO
A.
Bacterial
Test
(
a)
Type:
Bacterial
reverse
mutation
assay
(
Ames
test)
System
of
testing:
S.
typhimurium
strains
TA
98,
TA
100,
TA
1535,
TA
1537,
and
TA
1538.
Standard
plate­
incorporation
assay
was
performed.
Concentration:
0.0033
to
10
mg
per
plate
Metabolic
activation:
With
[
];
Without
[
];
With
and
Without
[
X]
Results:
Cytotoxicity
conc:
With
metabolic
activation:
not
stated
Without
metabolic
activation:
not
stated
Precipitation
conc:
not
stated
Genotoxic
effects:
+
?
­
With
metabolic
activation:
[
]
[
]
[
X]
Without
metabolic
activation:
[
]
[
]
[
X]
Method:
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Prival,
M.
J.,
Simmon,
V.
F.,
and
Mortelmans,
K.
E.
1991.
Bacterial
mutagenicity
testing
of
49
food
ingredients
gives
very
few
positive
results.
Mutation
Research
260:
321­
329.

(
b)
Type:
Bacillus
subtilis
recombination
assay
System
of
testing:
H17
(
Rec+)
and
M45
(
Rec­)
strains
Concentration:
0.005
to
0.5
M
Metabolic
activation:
With
[
];
Without
[
X];
With
and
Without
[
]
Results:
Cytotoxicity
conc:
Not
stated
Precipitation
conc:
Not
stated
Genotoxic
effects:
+
?
­
Without
metabolic
activation:
[
]
[
]
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Kanematsu,
N.,
Hara,
M.,
and
Kada,
T.
1980.
Rec
assay
and
mutagenicity
studies
on
metal
compounds.
Mutation
Research
77:
109­
116.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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31
B.
Non­
bacterial
in
vitro
test
Type:
Mammalian
cell
gene
mutation
assay
System
of
testing:
Chinese
hamster
fibroplast
Concentration:
1.0
mg/
L
Metabolic
activation:
With
[
];
Without
[
X];
With
and
Without
[
]
Results:
Cytotoxicity
conc:
>
1.0
mg/
L
Precipitation
conc:
Not
stated.
Genotoxic
effects:
+
?
­
Without
metabolic
activation:
[
]
[
]
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
(
1984)
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Ishidate,
M.,
Sofuni,
T.,
Yoshikawa,
K.,
Nohmi,
T.,
Savada,
M.,
and
Matsuka,
A.
1984.
Primary
mutagenicity
screening
of
food
additives
currently
used
in
Japan.
Fd.
Chem.
Toxic.
22(
8):
623­
636.

5.6
GENETIC
TOXICITY
IN
VIVO
Type:
Dominant
lethal
assay
Species/
strain:
Sprague­
Dawley
rat
Sex:
Female
[
];
Male
[
X];
Male/
Female
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Route
of
Administration:
Oral
feed
Exposure
period:
10­
weeks
Doses:
not
stated
Results:
Body
weight
gains
did
not
show
a
clear
dose­
response
effect.
The
weight
gains
ranged
from
3
to
13%
above
control
values.
The
dominant
lethal
test
produced
no
consistent
responses
to
suggest
that
potassium
nitrate
is
mutagenic
to
rats.
Genotoxic
effects:
+
?
­
[
]
[
]
[
X]
Method:
Not
specified
(
1979)
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
References:
Study
of
Mutagenic
Effects
of
Potassium
Nitrate
by
the
Dominant
Lethal
Test
in
Rats.
1979.
Government
Reports
Announcements
and
Index.
Issue
26.

5.7
CARCINOGENICITY
Remarks:
There
has
been
some
evidence
that
indicates
a
possible
formation
of
N­
nitroso
compounds
in
foods
and
in
tissues
that
contain
excess
nitrates/
nitrites.
N­
nitroso
compounds
are
known
to
be
potent
mutagens/
carcinogens.
The
bacteria
in
saliva
break
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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32
down
nitrates
to
harmless
nitrous
acid.
Certain
foods
such
as
fish
are
rich
in
amine,
which
reacts
with
nitrous
acid
to
produce
nitrosamines.
However,
evidence
suggests
that
the
quantities
of
nitrosamines
formed
in
the
organism
from
nitrates
in
food
are
negligible;
500,000
times
less
than
the
no­
effect
dose.
All
of
the
epidemiological
studies
published
since
1985
concluded
that
there
is
no
positive
correlation
between
nitrate
intakes
and
the
incidence
of
cancer.
In
fact,
some
evidence
suggests
that
nitrates
in
foods
may
actually
play
an
anti­
carcinogenic
role.
References:
1)
Al­
Dabbagh,
S.,
Forman,
D.,
Bryson,
D.,
Stratton,
I.
and
Doll,
R.
1986.
Mortality
of
nitrate
fertilizer
workers.
British
Journal
of
Industrial
Medicine.
43:
507­
515.
2)
Chow,
C.
K.,
Chen,
C.
J.
and
Gairola,
C.
1980.
Effect
of
nitrate
and
nitrite
in
drinking
water
in
rats.
Toxicology
Letters.
6:
199­
206.
3)
Forman,
D.,
Al­
Dabbagh,
S.
and
Doll,
R.
1985.
Nitrates,
nitrites
and
gastric
cancer
in
Great
Britain.
Nature.
313(
6004):
620­
625.
4)
Leclerc,
H.,
Vincent,
P.
and
Vandevenne,
P.
1991.
Nitrates
in
drinking
water
and
cancer.
Bull.
Acad.
Natl.
Med.
175(
4):
651­
666.
5)
Lijinsky,
W.
1989.
Environmental
cancer
risks
 
real
and
unreal.
Environmental
Research
50:
207­
209.
6)
Lijinsky,
W.
and
Epstein,
S.
S.
1970.
Nitrosamines
as
environmental
carcinogens.
Nature
225(
227):
21­
23.
7)
Magee,
P.
N.
and
Barnes,
J.
M.
1967.
Carcinogenic
nitroso
compounds.
Adv.
Cancer
Res.
10:
163­
264.

5.8
TOXICITY
TO
REPRODUCTION
(
a)
Remarks:
See
the
summary
in
Section
5.4
for
details
of
an
OECD
Guideline
422
combined
repeat
dose/
reproductive/
developmental
toxicity
study
conducted
in
2002.

(
b)
Type:
Fertility
[
X];
One­
generation
study
[
];
Two­
generation
study
[
];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Guinea
pig
Sex:
Female
[
X];
Male
[
];
Male/
Female
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Route
of
Administration:
Ingestion
via
drinking
water
Exposure
period:
143
 
204
days
Frequency
of
treatment:
daily
Post
exposure
observation
period:
none
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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7757­
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33
Duration
of
the
test
Up
to
204­
days
Doses:
300,
2500,
10,000
and
30,000
ppm
Control
group:
Yes
[
X];
No
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Concurrent
no
treatment
[
X];
Concurrent
vehicle
[
];
Historical
[
]
NOAEL
Parental:
10,000
ppm
NOAEL
F1
Offspring:
10,000
ppm
Results:
Reproduction
was
not
appreciably
affected
by
KNO3
at
levels
up
to
10,000
ppm
in
drinking
water.
However,
at
30,000
ppm
reproductive
performance
was
poor.
At
30,000
ppm,
one
female
died
and
had
4
mummified
fetuses
in
utero.
Method:
Potassium
nitrate
was
given
in
the
water
at
concentrations
of
300,
2,500,
10,000,
and
30,000
ppm.
Forty­
six
female
guinea
pigs
were
used.
No
more
than
5
guinea
pigs
were
in
any
cage,
and
at
least
1
was
a
male.
The
lowest
treatment
group
had
6
individuals
while
the
other
treatment
groups
had
3
individuals.
The
control
group
had
4
individuals.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Concurrent
studies
with
potassium
nitrite
(
KNO2)
indicated
more
serious
effects
on
reproduction
at
concentrations
of
5,000
and
10,000
ppm
KNO2
in
drinking
water.
Effects
included
lack
of
live
births
and
aborted
or
mummified
fetuses.
References:
Sleight,
S.
D.
and
Atallah,
O.
A.
1968.
Reproduction
in
the
guinea
pig
as
affected
by
chronic
administration
of
potassium
nitrate
and
potassium
nitrite.
Toxicology
and
Applied
Pharmacology.
12:
179­
185.

(
c)
Type:
Fertility
[
];
One­
generation
study
[
];
Two­
generation
study
[
X];
Other
[
]
Species/
strain:
Wistar
rat
Sex:
Female
[
X];
Male
[
];
Male/
Female
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Route
of
Administration:
Oral
(
diet)
Exposure
period:
Two
generations
Frequency
of
treatment:
Daily
during
second
trimester
Doses:
0.1,
0.5
and
2.5
%
Control
group:
Yes
[
X];
No
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Concurrent
no
treatment
[
X];
Concurrent
vehicle
[
];
Historical
[
]
NOAEL
Parental:
2.5%
NOAEL
F1
Offspring:
No
gross
fetal
malformations
were
observed
at
term
except
in
the
2.5%
group.
NOAEL
F2
Offspring:
At
term
(
F2),
slight
fetal
toxicity,
including
some
types
of
anomalies,
was
observed
in
the
2.5%
potassium
nitrate
group,
but
the
other
groups
were
almost
normal.
Results:
No
differences
were
observed
between
treated
F1
thirteen
week
old
neonates
and
controls.
After
normal
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
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34
delivery
of
F2
offspring,
growth
development
of
the
neonates
was
no
different
from
controls.
Method:
Pregnant
rats
were
fed
a
diet
containing
2.5,
0.5,
or
0.1%
of
potassium
nitrate
during
the
second
trimester.
After
normal
delivery
in
half
of
the
offspring
from
the
dams
receiving
potassium
nitrate,
the
neonates
were
observed
until
the
thirteenth
week.
The
female
offspring
(
F1)
were
mated
with
the
F1
males
of
the
same
group
and
fed
the
same
diet
during
the
second
trimester.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
The
data
suggest,
that
a
dose
of
2.5%
potassium
nitrate,
which
corresponds
to
4
g
in
daily
intake
for
humans,
was
slightly
toxic
to
the
F2
generation
in
rats.
References:
Kanoh,
S.
and
Ema,
M.
1978.
Studies
on
the
fetal
toxicity
of
potassium
nitrate
in
two
generations
of
rats.
Teratology.
18:
148.

5.9
DEVELOPMENTAL
TOXICITY/
TERATOGENICITY
(
a)
Remarks:
See
the
summary
in
Section
5.4
for
details
of
an
OECD
Guideline
422
combined
repeat
dose/
reproductive/
developmental
toxicity
study
conducted
in
2002.

(
b)
Species/
strain:
CD­
1
mouse
Sex:
Female
[
X];
Male
[
];
Male/
Female
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Route
of
Administration:
Oral
intubation
Duration
of
the
test:
17­
days
Exposure
period:
10­
days
Doses:
0.4,
2.0,
100,
400
mg/
kg
Control
group:
Yes
[
X];
No
[
];
No
Data
[
]
Concurrent
no
treatment
[
X];
Concurrent
vehicle
[
]
NOEL
Maternal
Toxicity:
400
mg/
kg
bw.
NOEL
teratogenicity:
400
mg/
kg
bw.
Results:
At
the
dose
level
of
400
mg/
kg
no
significant
differences
between
test
and
control
animals
could
be
seen
with
respect
to
survival,
number
of
pregnancies,
number
of
abortions,
resorptions,
dead
fetuses,
or
average
fetus
weight.
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
Potassium
nitrate
is
widely
used
as
a
food
additive.
References:
Food
and
Drug
Administration
(
FDA).
1972.
Teratologic
Evaluation
of
FDA
71­
81
(
Potassium
Nitrate)
in
Mice,
Rats,
Hamsters
and
Rabbits.
Final
Report.
FDA
71­
260.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
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7757­
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35
5.10
OTHER
RELEVANT
INFORMATION
(
a)
Type:
Toxicity
of
intestinal
cells
Species/
strain:
Male
B6C3F1
mice
(
10­
12
weeks
old)
Value:
See
remarks
Method:
Potassium
nitrate
solution
was
administered
by
oral
intubation
in
acute
doses
(
50,
100,
200,
or
400
mg/
kg
body
weight).
Groups
of
4
or
more
animals
were
killed
by
cervical
dislocation
at
various
post­
dosing
periods
(
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
8,
10,
and
12
hours).
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Potassium
nitrate
(
KNO3)
Remarks:
The
highest
incidence
of
apoptotic
cell
death
occurred
at
the
5th­
6th
cell
positions
from
the
base
of
the
crypt
and
at
6­
hours
after
treatment.
This
study
is
consistent
with
findings
that
many
cytotoxic
agents
are
able
to
induce
apoptotic
cell
death
in
murine
intestinal
crypts.
References:
Grudzinski,
I.
P.
and
Law,
F.
C.
P.
1998.
Induction
of
cell
death
in
the
intestinal
crypt
of
mice
following
oral
administration
of
nitrate
and
nitrite.
Bull.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
60:
185­
193.

(
b)
Type:
Toxicity
to
livestock
Remarks:
Several
studies
have
evaluated
the
effects
of
nitrate
on
cattle
and
sheep.
Severe
nitrate
poisoning
(
including
mortality)
can
occur
in
cattle
if
feed
contains
greater
than
1.5%
potassium
nitrate
on
a
dry
basis.
Sublethal
effects
(
illness,
loss
of
milk,
off
feed,
abortion)
can
occur
if
the
ration
contains
0.5
 
1.5%
KNO3.
Below
0.5%
appears
safe
if
plenty
of
carbohydrates
are
included
in
the
ration.
In
sheep,
2500
mg/
kg
bw.
given
intravenously
caused
dehydration,
deuresir,
and
high
KNO3
concentration
in
urine,
but
no
methaemoglobinemia.
"
Nitrate"
poisoning
in
livestock
is
actually
due
to
the
reduction
of
nitrate
to
nitrite
and
subsequent
absorption
of
nitrite
into
the
blood
stream.
Reference:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

5.11
EXPERIENCE
WITH
HUMAN
EXPOSURE
(
a)
Results:
The
normal
fatal
dose
of
potassium
nitrate
for
an
adult
is
between
15
and
35
g,
although
death
has
been
reported
after
taking
as
little
as
3.5
g.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
36
Remarks:
Symptoms
of
acute
potassium
nitrate
poisoning
occur
in
the
following
order:
pain
in
the
epigastrium;
purging,
often
with
blood;
convulsions
of
the
face
muscles;
weak
irregular
pulse;
difficult
respiration;
cold
extremities
followed
by
collapse.
Reference:
1)
Burden,
E.
H.
W.
J.
1961.
The
toxicology
of
nitrates
and
nitrites
with
particular
reference
to
the
potability
of
water
supplies.
The
Analyst.
86(
1024):
429­
433.
2)
Taylor's
Principals
and
Practice
of
Medical
Jurisprudence.
11th
Ed.
Vol.
2.
1957.

(
b)
Remarks:
Several
instances
of
adverse
human
effects
due
to
excessive
exposure
to
potassium
nitrate
have
been
recorded.
Generally
these
effects
are
related
to
the
occurrence
of
methaemoglobinaemia.
Nitrates
generally
can
produce
methaemoglobinaemia
when
they
are
transformed
into
nitrites
under
the
influence
of
bacterial
proliferation
or
of
a
reductase
held
in
plants.
Cases
of
methaemoglobinaemia
have
been
noted
after
an
overdose
of
KNO3
and
of
bismuth
subnitrate.
References:
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

6.
REFERENCES
Admiral,
W.
1977.
Tolerance
of
estuarine
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to
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concentrations
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nitrite
ion,
nitrate
ion
and
orthophosphate.
Marine
Biology
43:
307­
315.

Al­
Dabbagh,
S.,
Forman,
D.,
Bryson,
D.,
Stratton,
I.
and
Doll,
R.
1986.
Mortality
of
nitrate
fertilizer
workers.
British
Journal
of
Industrial
Medicine.
43:
507­
515.

BDH,
Inc.
2000.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
September
28,
2000.

Budavari,
S.
1996.
Merck
Index.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

Burden,
E.
H.
W.
J.
1961.
The
toxicology
of
nitrates
and
nitrites
with
particular
reference
to
the
potability
of
water
supplies.
The
Analyst.
86(
1024):
429­
433.

Chow,
C.
K.,
Chen,
C.
J.
and
Gairola,
C.
1980.
Effect
of
nitrate
and
nitrite
in
drinking
water
in
rats.
Toxicology
Letters.
6:
199­
206.

Dollahite,
R.
1974.
Southwest
Vet.
27:
246.
(
cited
in
Budavari
1996).

Dowden,
B.
F.
and
Bennett,
H.
J.
1965.
Toxicity
of
selected
chemicals
to
certain
animals.
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Water
Pollution
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37(
9):
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1316.
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Nitrate
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79­
1
37
European
Commission.
2000.
Potassium
Nitrate.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Year
2000
CD­
ROM
Edition.

Food
and
Drug
Administration
(
FDA).
1972.
Teratologic
Evaluation
of
FDA
71­
81
(
Potassium
Nitrate)
in
Mice,
Rats,
Hamsters
and
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Final
Report.
FDA
71­
260.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Forman,
D.,
Al­
Dabbagh,
S.
and
Doll,
R.
1985.
Nitrates,
nitrites
and
gastric
cancer
in
Great
Britain.
Nature.
313(
6004):
620­
625.

Grudzinski,
I.
P.
and
Law,
F.
C.
P.
1998.
Induction
of
cell
death
in
the
intestinal
crypt
of
mice
following
oral
administration
of
nitrate
and
nitrite.
Bull.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
60:
185­
193.

Hazardous
Substances
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Bank
(
HSDB).
1999.
Potassium
Nitrate.
National
Library
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Medicine,
Bethesda,
MD.

Horio,
M.
1982.
Experimental
clinico­
physiological
studies
on
the
poisoning
of
nitrate
in
ruminants.
1.
Changes
in
methaemoglobin
formation
and
some
medicochemical
properties
of
goats
after
administration
of
potassium
nitrate.
Bulletin
Nippon
Veterinary
Zootechnical
College
0(
31):
75­
87.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Ishidate,
M.,
Sofuni,
T.,
Yoshikawa,
K.,
Nohmi,
T.,
Savada,
M.,
and
Matsuka,
A.
1984.
Primary
mutagenicity
screening
of
food
additives
currently
used
in
Japan.
Fd.
Chem.
Toxic.
22(
8):
623­
636.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

International
Chemical
Safety
Cards:
0184,
Third
Series,
Commission
of
the
European
Communities,
1991.

Kanematsu,
N.,
Hara,
M.,
and
Kada,
T.
1980.
Rec
assay
and
mutagenicity
studies
on
metal
compounds.
Mutation
Research
77:
109­
116.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Kanoh,
S.
and
Ema,
M.
1978.
Studies
on
the
fetal
toxicity
of
potassium
nitrate
in
two
generations
of
rats.
Teratology.
18:
148.

Leclerc,
H.,
Vincent,
P.
and
Vandevenne,
P.
1991.
Nitrates
in
drinking
water
and
cancer.
Bull.
Acad.
Natl.
Med.
175(
4):
651­
666.

Lide,
D.
R.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
78th
ed.
1998.
New
York,
Lewis
Publishers.

Lijinsky,
W.
1989.
Environmental
cancer
risks
 
real
and
unreal.
Environmental
Research
50:
207­
209.

Lijinsky,
W.
and
Epstein,
S.
S.
1970.
Nitrosamines
as
environmental
carcinogens.
Nature
225(
227):
21­
23.

Litau,
M.
and
Lehrer,
Y.
1978.
The
effect
of
ammonium
in
water
on
Potamogeton
lucens.
Aquatic
Botany
5:
127­
138.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).
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Nitrate
CAS
#
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79­
1
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Magee,
P.
N.
and
Barnes,
J.
M.
1967.
Carcinogenic
nitroso
compounds.
Adv.
Cancer
Res.
10:
163­
264.

Mallinckrodt
Baker,
Inc.
1999.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet
No.
P5950:
Potassium
Nitrate.
Last
revision
November
17,
1999.

Merkel,
D.
J.
2000.
Acute
dermal
toxicity
study
in
rats­
limit
test.
Product
Safety
Labs
study
number
9742.

NFPA.
1986.
Protection
Guide
for
Hazardous
Materials.
9th
Ed.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

NIOSH,
IPCS,
International
Chemical
Safety
Cards
(#
0184).
Potassium
Nitrate.

Nippon
Yakuriqaku
Zasshi.
1983.
81:
469
(
cited
in
RTECS
and
European
Commission
1996).

Owens,
F.
N.
and
Dubeski,
P.
1989.
Nitrate
toxicity
in
ruminants.
ASAS
Production
and
Management
Symposium.

Prival,
M.
J.,
Simmon,
V.
F.,
and
Mortelmans,
K.
E.
1991.
Bacterial
mutagenicity
testing
of
49
food
ingredients
gives
very
few
positive
results.
Mutation
Research
260:
321­
329.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Product
Safety
Laboratories.
2002.
Potassium
Nitrate:
Combined
Repeated
Dose
Toxicity
Study
With
the
Reproduction/
Developmental
Toxicity
Screening
Test
(
Oral
Gavage
Study
in
Rats).
Study
Number
11686.

Reisk,
D.
J.
1970.
The
effect
of
varying
concentrations
of
nutrients,
chlorinity
and
dissolved
oxygen
in
Polychaetous
annelis.
Water
Research
4(
11):
721­
745.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Rubin,
A.
J.
and
Elmaraghy,
G.
A.
1977.
Studies
on
toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrate
and
their
mixtures
to
guppy
fry.
Water
Res.
11(
10):
927­
935.

Sleight,
S.
D.
and
Atallah,
O.
A.
1968.
Reproduction
in
the
guinea
pig
as
affected
by
chronic
administration
of
potassium
nitrate
and
potassium
nitrite.
Toxicology
and
Applied
Pharmacology.
12:
179­
185.

Study
of
Mutagenic
Effects
of
Potassium
Nitrate
by
the
Dominant
Lethal
Test
in
Rats.
1979.
Government
Reports
Announcements
and
Index.
Issue
26.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).

Taylor's
Principals
and
Practice
of
Medical
Jurisprudence.
11th
Ed.
Vol.
2.
1957.

Trama,
F.
B.
1954.
The
acute
toxicity
of
some
common
salts
of
sodium,
potassium
and
calcium
to
the
common
bluegill.
Proc.
Acad.
Nat.
Sci.
Philadelphia.
106:
185­
205.

USEPA.
2000.
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V.
3.10.
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
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79­
1
39
Wallen,
I.
E.,
Greer,
W.
C.,
and
Lasater,
R.
1957.
Stream
pollution.
Toxicity
to
Gambusia
affinis
of
certain
pure
chemicals
in
turbid
waters.
Sewage
and
Industrial
Wastes
29(
6):
695­
711.
(
cited
in
European
Commission
1996).
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
APPENDIX
A
 
SIDS
Data
Availability
Summary
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Explanation
of
Appendix
A
Appendix
A
is
a
SIDS
Data
Summary
table
that
provides
an
overview
of
availability
and
quality
of
the
data
used
in
this
Health
and
Environmental
Safety
Data
Summary
for
Potassium
Nitrate.
Y
(
Yes)
and
N
(
No)
designations
indicate
whether
data
are
available
that
meet
the
criteria
for
each
column.
The
columns
are
described
as:

Information:
Data
exist
that
were
useful
for
describing
the
data
element.
These
data
may
be
from
standard
laboratory
tests
or
from
generally
recognized
published
sources
or
professional
experience.

OECD
Study:
The
data
were
developed
using
standard
OECD
or
essentially
similar
(
e.
g.,
EPA
harmonized
protocols)
guidelines.

GLP:
The
data
were
developed
under
standard
Good
Laboratory
Practice
provisions.
These
generally
represent
the
highest
quality
data.

Other
Study:
Studies
were
conducted
that
could
not
be
definitively
identified
as
following
OECD
or
GLP
protocols.
These
studies
were
included
when
they
were
determined
to
be
of
adequate
quality
and
provided
relevant
information
to
the
characterization
of
the
compound.

Estimation
Method:
In
some
cases,
data
may
be
estimated
using
established
structure
activity
relationships.
These
methods
are
common
for
physical­
chemical
parameters
such
as
octanolwater
partition
coefficients
and
water
solubility.

Acceptable:
This
column
indicates
whether
the
data
are
deemed
acceptable
by
standard
acceptability
criteria
and
professional
judgment.
Only
the
data
meeting
adequacy
standards
are
included
in
this
summary
document.

SIDS
Testing
Recommended:
This
column
indicates
whether
additional
testing
is
recommended
based
on
an
evaluation
of
the
available
data
summarized
in
this
document.
It
is
generally
not
necessary
to
fill
all
of
the
apparent
data
gaps
in
order
to
adequately
characterize
the
inherent
hazard
of
chemicals.
Information
from
other
data
elements
and
from
other
chemicals
in
the
category,
along
with
professional
judgment,
are
useful
in
the
final
determination
of
the
need
for
further
testing.
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
SIDS
DATA
AVAILABILITY
SUMMARY
DATE:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
No:
7757­
79­
1
Information
OECD
Study
GLP
Other
Study
Estimated
Method
Acceptable
SIDS
Testing
Recommended
STUDY
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
Melting
Point
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
2.2
Boiling
Point
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
2.3
Density
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
2.4
Vapor
Pressure
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
2.5
Partition
Coefficient
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
2.6
Water
Solubility
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
pH
and
pKa
Values
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
2.8
Auto
Flammability
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
2.9
Flammability
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
2.10
Explosive
Properties
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
2.11
Oxidizing
Properties
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
2.12
Oxidation:
Reduction
Potential
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
OTHER
P/
C
STUDIES
RECEIVED
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
and
PATHWAY
3.1.1
Photodegradation
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
3.1.2
Stability
in
Water
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
3.1.3
Stability
in
Soil
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
3.2
Monitoring
Data
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
3.3.1
Transport
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
3.3.2
Distribution
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
3.5
Biodegradation
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
3.7
Bioaccumulation
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
OTHER
ENV
FATE
STUDIES
RECEIVED
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
Acute
Toxicity
to
Fish
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
4.2
Acute
Toxicity
to
Daphnia
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
4.3
Toxicity
to
Algae
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
4.5.1
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Fish
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
4.5.2
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
4.6.1
Toxicity
to
Soil
Dwelling
Organisms
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
4.6.2
Toxicity
to
Terrestrial
Plants
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
4.6.3
Toxicity
to
Birds
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
OTHER
ECOTOXICITY
STUDIES
RECEIVED
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
No:
7757­
79­
1
Information
OECD
Study
GLP
Other
Study
Estimated
Method
Acceptable
SIDS
Testing
Recommended
STUDY
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
Y/
N
TOXICITY
5.1.1
Acute
Oral
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
5.1.2
Acute
Inhalation
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
5.1.3
Acute
Dermal
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
5.2
Skin
and
Eye
Irritation
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
5.3
Skin
Sensitization
N
N
N
N
N
­
N
5.4
Repeated
Dose
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
5.5
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vitro
.
Gene
mutation
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
.
Chromosomal
aberration
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
5.6
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vivo
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
5.7
Carcinogenicity
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
5.8
Reproduction
Toxicity
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
5.9
Development/
Teratogenicity
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
5.11
Human
Experience
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
OTHER
TOXICITY
STUDIES
RECEIVED
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
APPENDIX
B
 
SIDS
Data
Summaries
for
the
Nitrate
Compounds
Category:
Ammonium
Nitrate,
Nitrogen
Solutions
(
UAN),
Potassium
Nitrate,
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate,
and
Sodium
Nitrate
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Ammonium
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Solution
(
UAN)

DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
Melting
Point
169.6oC
2.2
Boiling
Point
210oC
2.3
Density
1.725
g/
mL
at
25oC
2.4
Vapor
Pressure
15
hPa
at
20oC
2.5
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
OECD
107
­
3.1
at
25oC
2.6A
Water
Solubility
1,920
g/
L
at
20oC
2.6B
pH
and
pKa
values
pH
=
5.43
in
aqueous
solution
2.7
Flash
Point
Not
applicable
2.8
Auto
Flammability
Not
flammable
2.9
Flammability
Not
flammable
2.10
Explosive
Properties
May
explode
under
high
temperature
or
strong
shocks
2.11
Oxidizing
Properties
Strong
oxidizer
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Ammonium
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Solution
(
UAN)

DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
and
PATHWAY
3.1.1
Photodegradation
Does
not
photodegrade
3.12
Stability
in
Water
Stable
3.1.3
Stability
in
Soil
Binds
to
clay
particles
3.3
Transport
and
Distribution
3.3.2
Distribution
Calculated,

Fugacity
Level
III
0.251%
to
air
45.4%
to
water
54.2%
to
soil
0.0757%
to
sediment
3.5
Biodegradation
Readily
biodegraded
3.7
Bioaccumulation
Does
not
bioaccumulate
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Ammonium
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Solution
(
UAN)

DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
Acute
toxicity
to
Fish
Cyprinus
carpio
L.
48
hrs
LC50
=
1.15
 
1.72
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
Oncorhynchus
mykiss
96
hrs
LC50
>
103
mg/
L
Chinook
salmon,
rainbow
trout,
bluegill
96
hrs
LC50
=
420
 
1,360
mg
NO3/
L
Pimephalas
promelas
96
hrs
LC50
between
100
and
500
mg/
L
4.2
Acute
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Daphnia
magna
EC50
=
555
mg/
L
4.3
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Plants
(
Algae)
Scenedesmus
quadricauda
EC50
=
83
mg/
L
4.5.2
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Bullia
digitalis
Up
to
7
days
NOEC
=
300
mg/
L
4.6.1
Toxicity
to
Soil
Dwelling
Organisms
4.6.2
Toxicity
to
Terrestrial
Plants
4.6.3
Toxicity
to
Other
Non­
Mammalian
Terrestrial
Species
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Ammonium
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Solution
(
UAN)

DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
TOXICITY
5.1.1
Acute
Oral
Toxicity
Rat
OECD
401
LD50
=
2,800
mg/
kg
bw
Rat
OECD
425
LD50
>
2,000
mg/
kg
bw
Rat
OECD
401
LD50
=
2,462
mg/
kg
bw
Rat
OECD
401
LD50
=
2,950
mg/
kg
bw
Rat
LD50
=
4,500
mg/
kg
bw
5.1.2
Acute
Inhalation
Rat
4
hrs
LC50
>
88.8
mg/
L
5.1.3
Acute
Dermal
Toxicity
Rat
OECD
402
LC50
>
5,000
mg/
kg
5.1.4
Acute
Toxicity,

Other
Routes
White
rat
Injected;
3
hrs
Minimum
lethal
dose
=
0.065
mg
NH4NO3
 
N
5.2.1
Skin
Irritation/

Corrosion
Rabbit
Moderately
irritating
Rabbit
Not
irritating
5.2.2
Eye
Irritation/
corrosion
5.3
Skin
Sensitization
5.4
Repeated
Dose
Rat
Inhalation;
2
weeks
NOAEL
=
185
mg/
m3
Rat
Inhalation;
4
weeks
NOAEL
=
1
mg/
m3
5.5
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vitro
.
Gene
mutation
Salmonella
typhimurium
Bacterial
reverse
mutation
assay
Negative
.
Chromosomal
aberration
5.6
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vivo
5.7
Carcinogenicity
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Ammonium
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Solution
(
UAN)

DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
5.8
Toxicity
to
Reproduction
5.9
Development
Toxicity/
Teratogenicity
Rat
NOAEL
>
57
mg/
kg/
day
51.0
Additional
Information
No
sensory
irritation
5.11
Human
Experience
See
text
1.8
Occupational
Exposure
Limits
TLV
as
inert
dust
15
mg/
m3
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
Melting
Point
344oC
308oC;
307oC
2.2
Boiling
Point
400oC
at
760
mm
Hg
380oC
at
760
mm
Hg
2.3
Density
2.109
g/
mL
at
16oC
2.26
g/
cm3
at
20oC
2.4
Vapor
Pressure
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
1.39x10­
15
hPa
at
25oC
Not
expected
to
volatilize
2.5
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
EPISUITE
V.
3.10
­
0.79
at
25oC
OECD
107
­
3.8
at
25oC
2.6A
Water
Solubility
357
g/
L
at
25oC
874
g/
L
at
20oC
2.6B
pH
and
pKa
values
pH
~
7
at
25oC
pH
=
7
in
aqueous
solution
2.7
Flash
Point
Not
applicable
Not
applicable
2.8
Auto
Flammability
Not
flammable
Does
not
burn
2.9
Flammability
Not
flammable
Not
flammable
2.10
Explosive
Properties
May
explode
on
contact
with
reducing
agents
and/
or
impact.
May
explode
at
high
temperatures
or
contact
with
reducing
agents
2.11
Oxidizing
Properties
Strong
oxidizer
Strong
oxidizer
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
and
PATHWAY
3.1.1
Photodegradation
Does
not
photodegrade
Does
not
photodegrade
Does
not
photodegrade
3.1.2
Stability
in
Water
Stable
Stable
3.1.3
Stability
in
Soil
Stable
Binds
to
clay
particles
3.3.2
Distribution
Fugacity
Level
III
(
Mackay
type)
8.34x10­
9
%
to
air
45.3%
to
water
54.7%
to
soil
0.0755%
to
sediment
Fugacity
Level
III
(
Mackay
type)
0.001%
to
air
45.3%
to
water
54.7%
to
soil
0.076%
to
sediment
3.5
Biodegradation
Biodegradable
Biodegradable
3.7
Bioaccumulation
Does
not
bioaccumulate
Does
not
bioaccumulate
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
Acute
toxicity
to
Fish
Lepomis
macrochirus
96
hrs
LC50
=
1,839
mg
NO3/
L
Oncorhynchus
mykiss
96
hrs
LC50
>
98.9
mg/
L
Lepomis
macrochirus
96
hrs
LC50
>
8,753
mg
NO3/
L
Lepomis
macrochirus
24
hrs
TLm
=
9,331
mg
NO3/
L
Oncorhynchus
tshawtscha
96
hrs
+
TLm
(
freshwater,

salmon)
=
5,800
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
(
15
ppt
salinity,
salmon)
=

4,400
mg
NO3/
L
Salmo
gairdneri
(
rainbow
trout)
TLm
(
freshwater,

trout)
=
6,000
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
(
15
ppt
salinity,
trout)
=

4,650
mg
NO3/
L
4.2
Acute
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Daphnia
magna
48
hrs
TLm
=
300
mg
NO3/
L
Daphnia
magna
48
hrs
TLm
=
3,581
mg
NaNO3/
L
Various
penaeid
shrimp
48
hrs
LC50
=
3,400
mg
NO3­
N/
L
NOEC
=
2,000
mg
NO3­
N/
L
Penaeus
monodon
larvae
40
hrs
LC50
>
100
mg
NO3/
L
Crassostrea
virginica
96
hrs
LC50
=
15,810
mg
NO3/
L
(
adults);

23,040
mg
NO3/
L
(
juveniles)

Mercenaria
mercenaria
96
hrs
LC50
>
19,840
mg
NO3/
L
(
adults
and
juveniles)

4.3
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Plants
(
Algae)
See
text
Scenedesmus
quadricauda
Toxicity
threshold
=
1,233
mg
NO2­/
L
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
4.5.1
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Fish
Amphiprion
oscellaris
3
months
%
survival
in
larvae
(
low­
nitrate
system)
=
37%

%
survival
in
larvae
(
high­
nitrate
system)
=
34%

4.5.2
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Nereis
grubei
Neanthes
arenaceodentata
Dorvilliea
articulata
Capitella
capita
TLm
=
327
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
496
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
880
mg
NO3/
L
TLm
=
713
mg
NO3/
L
Penaeus
monodon
3
 
5
weeks
LC50
>
200
mg
NO3
 
N/
L
4.6.3
Toxicity
to
Other
Non­
Mammalian
Terrestrial
Species
Coturnix
coturnix
japonica
(
Japanese
quail)
7
days
to
15
weeks
LC100
=
5,280
ppm
(
by
day
3
post
treatment)

LC100
=
5,940
ppm
(
by
day
4
post
treatment)
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
TOXICITY
5.1.1
Acute
Oral
Toxicity
Rat
LD50
=
3,750
mg/
kg
bw
Rat
OECD
425
LD50
>
2,000
mg/
kg
bw
Rabbit
LD50
=
2,680
mg/
kg
bw
Rabbit
LD50
=
1,166
NO3/
kg
Rat
LD50
=
1,267,

3,236,
3,430,
and
5,200
mg/
kg
bw
Cow,
Sheep
Lethal
dose
(
cow)

=
75­
140
mg
NO3
­

N/
kg
Lethal
dose
(
sheep)
=
70
mg
NO3
­
N/
kg
Goat
LD100
=
1,000­

1,500
mg/
kg
5.1.2
Acute
Inhalation
Dog,
sheep
7.5
minutes
to
4
hrs
NOEC
(
dog)
=
5
mg/
m3
NOEC
(
sheep)
=
1
mg/
m3
5.1.3
Acute
Dermal
Toxicity
Rat
OECD
402
LD50
>
5,000
mg/
kg
5.1.4
Acute
Toxicity,

Other
Routes
Dogs
i.
v.;
60
minutes
NOEC
=
100
mg
NaNO3
5.4
Repeated
Dose
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
Rat
6
weeks
MTD
=
5%
in
the
diet
Rat
14
months
See
text
5.5
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vitro
.
Gene
mutation
Salmonella
typhimurium
Bacterial
reverse
mutation
assay
Negative
Salmonella
typhimurium
Bacterial
reverse
mutations
assay
Negative
Bacillus
subtilis
recombination
assay
Negative
.
Chromosomal
aberration
Chinese
hamster
ovary
cells
Chromosome
aberration
test
Positive
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARIES
FOR
NITRATES
CATEGORY
Date:
January
27,
2003
Potassium
Nitrate
CAS
#
7757­
79­
1
Potassium
Nitrate
Potassium
Sodium
Nitrate
Sodium
Nitrate
DATA
ELEMENTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
5.6
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vivo
Rat
10
weeks
Negative
Swiss
mice
and
Wistar
rats
Micronucleus
assay
Positive
Mice
Mouse
germ
cells
Positive
5.7
Carcinogenicity
Rats
104
weeks
Not
significantly
different
from
controls
5.8
Toxicity
to
Reproduction
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
Beagle
dog
Two­
generation
study
No
significant
adverse
effects
Guinea
pig
One­
generation
study
NOAEL
Parental
=

10,000
ppm
NOAEL
F1
Offspring
=
10,000
ppm
Rat
Two­
generation
study
NOAEL
Parental
=

2.5%

5.9
Development
Toxicity/
Teratogenicity
Rat
OECD
422
NOAEL
=
1,500
mg/
kg/
day
Rat,
Mouse,

Rabbit,

Syrian
hamster
No
significant
adverse
effects
Mouse
Oral;
10
day
exposure
NOAEL
>
400
mg/
kg
bw
5.10
Metabolism
and
Toxicokinetics
Readily
absorbed
and
excreted
5.11
Human
Experience
See
text
See
text
1.8
Occupational
Exposure
Limits
TLV
as
inert
dust
15
mg/
m3
TLV
as
inert
dust
15
mg/
m3
TLV
as
inert
dust
15
mg/
m3