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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

In vivo, potassium superoxide reacts rapidly with water to produce potassium hydroxide (KOH), oxygen (O2) and potassium hydrogen peroxide (KHO2), which slowly degrades to KOH, H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and O2. KOH further dissociates into potassium and hydroxyl ions which constitute normal physiological ion pool. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is likely to degrade within a short time in in vivo conditions due to many alternative and competitive degradation pathways. Especially, in alkaline medium and in the presence of heavy and transition metals it is degraded rapidly. As a result, the contribution of toxicity from hydrogen peroxide is likely to be low. Overall, toxicity of potassium superoxide is likely to be low and a quantitative estimation of the hazard potential will not be appropriate due to its rapidly changing degradation kinetics.

No significant exposure occurs at the level of industrial/professional handling: KO2 is not manufactured in the EU. The substance is imported in the form of low dust tablets which are sealed and packed. Upon opening and before use, dust reduction measures are taken to avoid exposure via inhalation. The tablets are transferred from the barrels/bags into cartridges that are integrated into sealed Oxygen Self Rescuer units.

No significant exposure occurs at the level of consumer use: The self-rescuer device serves as a rescue device in emergency situations e.g. in mines or aircrafts. The user puts on the device and breathes through a mouthpiece and breathing tube. The moisture and CO2 from the breath react with KO2 to generate oxygen, potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate in the cartridge. Due to the specific design of the device, the user is protected from any contact with KO2 or inhaling KO2 dust. When spent, the cartridges are sent back for recycling or waste incineration. Unused devices are disposed of in a similar way.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Repeated dose toxicity: via oral route - systemic effects

Link to relevant study records

Referenceopen allclose all

Endpoint:
short-term repeated dose toxicity: oral
Data waiving:
study scientifically not necessary / other information available
Justification for data waiving:
other:
Endpoint:
sub-chronic toxicity: oral
Type of information:
other: evidence based on degradation product
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study with acceptable restrictions
Justification for type of information:
Refer to the section 13 of IUCLID dataset for details. The sub-chronic toxicity study with the degradation product is considered sufficient to fulfil the information requirements as further explained in the provided endpoint summary.
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 408 (Repeated Dose 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents)
GLP compliance:
yes
Limit test:
no
Species:
mouse
Strain:
other: C57BL/6NCrlBR
Details on species / strain selection:
C57BL/6NCRlBR mice were chosen due to their particular sensitivity to the test substance because of a deficient detoxification pathway.
Sex:
male/female
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
Test animals:
- Source: Charles River Laboratories
- Age at study initiation: 5 weeks
- Weight at study initiation:
- Fasting period before study: no data
- Housing: individually in suspended, stainless steel cages with wire bottom
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): Purina Rodent Chow 5002 (meal) ad libitum
- Water (e.g. ad libitum): ad libitum
- Acclimation period: 7 days
Environmental conditions:
- Temperature: 65 to 71 °F
- Humidity (%): 41 to 78
- Air changes (per hr): no data
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 hours light/12 hours darkness
Route of administration:
oral: drinking water
Details on route of administration:
ad libitum
Vehicle:
water
Details on oral exposure:
The treated (and control) water for this study was prepared twice weekly and administered to the animals on the day of preparation. The drinking water solutions were made by adding preweighed amounts of 35% test substance to distilled water. The solutions were mixed in carboys for at least 15 minutes prior to dispending the animals. Following administration, unused portions of treated water were stored refrigerated. All equipment for water solution preparation and administration was passivated with nitric acid before use.
Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
yes
Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
Samples of the 100 ppm test substance stock solution and the 3000 ppm test substance stock solution used to dose mice at the 100 ppm and 3000 ppm levels were taken together with a blank sample and analysed for concentration and homogeneity. A colourimetric analytical method designated Test Method APG No. 332 was applied which uses a ferrus thiocyanate reagent. The colour absorbance was measured with a Perkin Elmer Lambda 18 Spectrophotometer. Subsequently, on each of four date one distilled water blank, one control sample of 100 ppm and 3000 ppm test substance and five samples of 100 ppm and 3000 ppm dose solutions were analysed by the same method. Additionally, the 35% test substance solution was analysed by an iodometric titration at 30 day intervals up to 120 days to test the stability of the solution under the storage conditions (4 °C, vented closed container).
Duration of treatment / exposure:
Approximately 90 days
Frequency of treatment:
ad libitum
Dose / conc.:
0 ppm
Remarks:
nominal in water
Dose / conc.:
100 ppm
Remarks:
nominal in water
Dose / conc.:
300 ppm
Remarks:
nominal in water
Dose / conc.:
1 000 ppm
Remarks:
nominal in water
Dose / conc.:
3 000 ppm
Remarks:
nominal in water
No. of animals per sex per dose:
15/sex per treatment group; 10/sex were killed after ceasing the exposure period, whereas 5/sex were submitted to a six week recovery period.
Control animals:
yes
Details on study design:
C57BL/6NCRlBR mice were chosen due to their particular sensitivity to the test substance because of a deficient detoxification pathway.
Observations and examinations performed and frequency:
Clinical signs: daily
Mortality: twice daily
Body weight: weekly
Food consumption: weekly
Water consumption: twice weekly
Blood analysis, haematology, clinical chemistry analyses: blood samples were taken immediately before the scheduled necropsy
Ophthalmic examinations: the eyes of all animals were checked for lesions before the study and one week before the study termination and only animals showing no lesions were used in the study
Sacrifice and pathology:
Animals that died before the study termination underwent a complete necropsy upon dicovery of death. Animals sacrificed at their scheduled termination (days 91-93 of treatment period, days 133-134 of recovery period) were anaesthetised, bled for haematology and clinical chemistry determinations, sacrificed via exsanguination then necropsied. Animals were not fasted prior to sacrifice. The weights were determined of brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, testes, adrenals and heart. Samples from various tissues were saved in 10% buffered formalin. All slides of organs and tissues in the control and high dose groups as well as tissues from mice that died out of schedule were investigated by an experienced pathologist and histological examinations were performed on all gross lesions, the tongue, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum, jejunum, caecum, colon and rectum of all animals from all groups.
Other examinations:
-
Statistics:
Body weights, food consumption, water consumption, absolute organ weights, organ:brain weight ratios, haematology and clinical chemistry data were analysed using the Ebar-Squared trend test. The test compared data from the high-dose group to control and computed a p-value to indicate whether the measured parameter was significantly different (p < 0.05 for statistically significant difference). Subsequent analyses compared data from the next highest dosage group to control, in the direction of the overall trend, and generated another p-value. These analyses continued in a stepwise manner for successively lower groups until the p-value was greater 0.05. When the trend test returned a value greater than 0.05, no subsequent comparisons of the lower dosage groups were performed.
Clinical signs:
no effects observed
Mortality:
no mortality observed
Body weight and weight changes:
effects observed, treatment-related
Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):
effects observed, treatment-related
Food efficiency:
not specified
Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):
effects observed, treatment-related
Ophthalmological findings:
no effects observed
Haematological findings:
no effects observed
Clinical biochemistry findings:
effects observed, treatment-related
Urinalysis findings:
not examined
Behaviour (functional findings):
not specified
Description (incidence and severity):
Neurobehaviour: no data
Immunological findings:
not examined
Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:
no effects observed
Gross pathological findings:
effects observed, treatment-related
Neuropathological findings:
not examined
Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:
effects observed, treatment-related
Histopathological findings: neoplastic:
no effects observed
Details on results:
No treatment-related deaths occurred and no treatment-related clinical signs were noted at any time of the study. Male and females exhibited significant reductions in body weight at 3000 ppm. Food and water consumption were significantly reduced at 3000 ppm, 1000 and 300 ppm. Males receiving 3000 ppm displayed significant reductions in total protein and globulin levels in the blood, possibly caused by mucosal hyperplasia occurring in the duodenum of these animals. Necropsy revealed no treatment-related gross lesions. Tissue slides indicated an increase in the cross sectional diameter and wall thickness of the duodenum. Subsequent microscopic evaluations revealed mild mucosal hyperplasia in eight of nine males receiving 3000 ppm and in seven of ten males receiving 1000 ppm. Minimal mucosal hyperplasia was noted in one of ten males receiving 300 ppm. Minimal to mild mucosal hyperplasia was also seen in ten of ten females receiving 3000 ppm and in eight of ten females receiving 1000 ppm. No other areas of the gastrointestinal tract were affected. No evidence of cellular atypia or architectual disruptions nor any other indications of neoplastic changes were observed; therefore, the treatment-related mucosal hyperplasia noted was not considered as a neoplastic lesion.
Key result
Dose descriptor:
NOEL
Effect level:
100 ppm
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
food consumption and compound intake
histopathology: non-neoplastic
water consumption and compound intake
Remarks on result:
other: 26 and 37 mg/kg bw/day for males and females, respectively
Key result
Critical effects observed:
yes
Lowest effective dose / conc.:
300 ppm
System:
gastrointestinal tract
Organ:
duodenum
Treatment related:
yes
Dose response relationship:
yes
Conclusions:
Under the study conditions, the sub-chronic NOEL of the substance in mice was determined to be 100 ppm (equivalent to 26 and 37 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively).
Executive summary:

A study was conducted to determine the repeated dose oral toxicity of the substance according to OECD Guideline 408, in compliance with GLP. This subchronic toxicity study was conducted with a 35% aqueous solution of the test substance dissolved in drinking water to produce concentrations ranging from 100 to 3000 ppm. Groups of 15 male and 15 female C57BL/6NCrlBR mice was administered the test substance dissolved in their drinking water for 90 d. After the 90 -day exposure, 10 animals/sex of each dose group were sacrificed, while the remaining five animals/sex were kept for a six week recovery period. No treatment-related mortality or clinical signs were noted throughout the study. No other treatment-related effects were observed at the 100 ppm dose level. At 300 ppm, the consumption of food and water was reduced. Microscopic examination indicated an increase in the cross sectional diameter and wall thickness of the duodenum which corresponded to mild mucosal hyperplasia in eight of nine males and ten of ten females receiving 3000 ppm and in seven of ten males and eight of ten females receiving 1000 ppm. No other areas of the gastrointestinal tract were affected. During microscopical evaluation no evidence of cellular atypia or architectural disruptions nor any other indications of neoplastic changes were observed. Therefore, the treatment-related mucosal hyperplasia noted in the study was not considered as neoplastic lesion. Clinical pathologic effects (decreased total protein and globulin blood levels) were limited to the 3000 ppm level. All effects noted during the treatment period were reversible; animals sacrificed following the recovery period were considered biologically normal. Under the study conditions, the sub-chronic NOEL of the substance in mice was determined to be 100 ppm (equivalent to 26 and 37 mg/kg bw/day for males and females, respectively) (European Chemicals Bureau, 2003).

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation - systemic effects

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation - local effects

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Repeated dose toxicity: dermal - systemic effects

Link to relevant study records
Reference
Endpoint:
short-term repeated dose toxicity: dermal
Data waiving:
study scientifically not necessary / other information available
Justification for data waiving:
other:
Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Repeated dose toxicity: dermal - local effects

Link to relevant study records
Reference
Endpoint:
short-term repeated dose toxicity: dermal
Data waiving:
study scientifically not necessary / other information available
Justification for data waiving:
other:
Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Additional information

Repeated dose toxicity: weight of evidence based on toxicity studies with the degradation product hydrogen peroxide:

Repeated dose toxicity: oral

A study was conducted to determine the repeated dose oral toxicity of the degradation product hydrogen peroxide according to OECD Guideline 408, in compliance with GLP. This subchronic toxicity study was conducted with a 35% aqueous solution of the test substance dissolved in drinking water to produce concentrations ranging from 100 to 3000 ppm. Groups of 15 male and 15 female C57BL/6NCrlBR mice was administered the test substance dissolved in their drinking water for 90 d. After the 90 -day exposure, 10 animals/sex of each dose group were sacrificed, while the remaining five animals/sex were kept for a six week recovery period. No treatment-related mortality or clinical signs were noted throughout the study. No other treatment-related effects were observed at the 100 ppm dose level. At 300 ppm, the consumption of food and water was reduced. Microscopic examination indicated an increase in the cross sectional diameter and wall thickness of the duodenum which corresponded to mild mucosal hyperplasia in eight of nine males and ten of ten females receiving 3000 ppm and in seven of ten males and eight of ten females receiving 1000 ppm. No other areas of the gastrointestinal tract were affected. During microscopical evaluation no evidence of cellular atypia or architectural disruptions nor any other indications of neoplastic changes were observed. Therefore, the treatment-related mucosal hyperplasia noted in the study was not considered as neoplastic lesion. Clinical pathologic effects (decreased total protein and globulin blood levels) were limited to the 3000 ppm level. All effects noted during the treatment period were reversible; animals sacrificed following the recovery period were considered biologically normal. Under the study conditions, the sub-chronic NOEL of the substance in mice was determined to be 100 ppm (equivalent to 26 and 37 mg/kg bw/day for males and females, respectively) (Weiner, 2000).

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation

A study was conducted to determine the short term repeated dose: inhalation toxicity of the degradation product hydrogen peroxide according to OECD Guideline 412, in compliance with GLP. Male and female rats Alpk:APfSD (Wistar-derived) were exposed (whole body) to the test substance at concentrations of 0, 2.03, 10.3, 23.3 and 58.1/27.3 ppm (corresponding to analytical concentrations of 0, 2.88, 14.6, 33 and 82.4/38.7 mg/m3 air) for 28 days (6 hours daily, 5 days per week). Treatment of the 58.1 ppm group exposed initially was subsequently changed to to 27.3 ppm and was terminated before schedule due to the toxicity of the test substance. Clinical observations were consistent with the typical observations of respiratory tract irritation (reddened nose, stains around the nose, abnormal respiratory noise). In general the time to onset, incidence and severity of clinical signs increased with exposure concentration and repeated exposure. Males exposed to 23.3 ppm showed lower food consumption and body weight gain compared to controls. Minimal changes in albumin and total protein blood levels were found in males and females exposed to 23.3 ppm. Histopathological, treatment-related changes were seen in the anterior-most regions of the nasal cavity lined with squamous epithelium, where minimal to slight necrosis (with associated inflammation) and rhinitis were seen in animals exposed to 10.3 and 23.3 ppm test substance. Inflammation and epithelial erosion in the larynx and increased perivascular neutrophil infiltration in the lungs were considered unlikely to be related to treatment in the absence of a clear dose response relationship. Under the study conditions, the sub-acute inhalation NOAEC of the substance in rats was determined to be 2.03 ppm (corresponding to 2.9 mg/m3) (European Chemicals Bureau, 2003).

Justification for classification or non-classification

In vivo, potassium superoxide reacts rapidly with water to produce potassium hydroxide (KOH), oxygen (O2) and potassium hydrogen peroxide (KHO2), which slowly degrades to KOH, H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and O2. KOH further dissociates into potassium and hydroxyl ions which constitute normal physiological ion pool. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is likely to degrade within a short time in in vivo conditions due to many alternative and competitive degradation pathways. Especially, in alkaline medium and in the presence of heavy and transition metals it is degraded rapidly. As a result, the contribution of toxicity from hydrogen peroxide is likely to be low. Overall, toxicity of potassium superoxide is likely to be low and a quantitative estimation of the hazard potential will not be appropriate due to its rapidly changing degradation kinetics. Therefore, classification for repeated dose toxicity is not warranted according to the EU CLP (1272/2008) criteria.