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Diss Factsheets
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EC number: 231-818-8 | CAS number: 7757-79-1
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Carcinogenicity
Administrative data
Description of key information
Potassium nitrate is not genotoxic and no substance related neoplastic lesions were observed in the chronic toxicity study. There is no positive correlation between nitrate intakes and the incidence of cancer.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Carcinogenicity: via oral route
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- carcinogenicity: oral
- Type of information:
- other: Evaluation by competent authority
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: This publication represents a peer-reviewed evaluation of all published data on carcinogenic potential of nitrates.
- Conclusions:
- There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of nitrate in food.
There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of nitrate in drinking water.
There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of nitrate.
However, ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).
There is an active endogenous nitrogen cycle in humans that involves nitrate and nitrite, which are interconvertible in vivo. Nitrosating agents that arise from nitrite under acidic gastric conditions react readily with nitrosatable compounds, especially secondary amines and amides, to generate N-nitroso compounds. These nitrosating conditions are enhanced following ingestion of additional nitrate, nitrite or nitrosatable compounds.
Some of the N-nitroso compounds that could be formed in humans under these conditions are known carcinogens.
Reference
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
Carcinogenicity: via inhalation route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no study available
Carcinogenicity: via dermal route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no study available
Justification for classification or non-classification
The weight of evidence approach takes both available data (negative results) and the justification for the absence of data into account. Based on these data, potassium nitrate is not classified for carcinogenicity according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008.
Additional information
Justification for selection of carcinogenicity via oral route endpoint:
No single study was selected as key study, the conclusion was derived based on weight-of-evidence.
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.
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