Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 235-227-6 | CAS number: 12136-45-7
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Additional information
Measured concentrations in ecosystems
Because Potassium oxide does occur in the environment as Potassium and Oxygen a separate environmental assessment of both the potassium and the Oxygen ion is needed.
Oxygen is the most abundant chemical element by mass in the Earth's biosphere, air, sea and land. Oxygen is the third most abundant chemical element in the universe, after hydrogen and helium.
Potassium is essential constituent and one of the most abundant ions in all animal species. In adult humans, the total body potassium is approx. 3.5 mol (135 g). 98 % of this is located intracellular (150 mmol/l), the extracellular potassium concentration is approx. 4 mmol/l.
Potassium has been measured extensively in aquatic ecosystems. For example, UNEP (1995) reported the concentration for a total number of 75 rivers in North America, South-America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania. The 10th -percentile, mean and 90th -percentile were 0.8 , 3.2 and 6.0 mg/l, respectively. The potassium concentration of topsoils is 0.2-3.3% (Chemical Economics Handbook, 1999), and that of seawater is 380 mg/l (Tait, 1980).
Levels of concern for water quality from anthropogenic exposure, predominantly fertilizers, are never reached (12 mg/l WHO guideline for drinking water), except downstream from potash mines (Weser: 42.0 mg/l; Elbe: 26.1 mg/l). Acidity/alkalinity is measured as pH which is a key parameter in water quality. pH is closely linked to biological productivity in aquatic systems. With dissolved organic acids from soil leaching (Amazonia), a pH of less than 4.0 has been measured. In waters with a high chlorophyll content, the bicarbonate assimilation can result in pH values exceeding quiet commonly 8.5, and even 9.0 at midday (Loire)
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
