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Diss Factsheets
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EC number: 205-792-3 | CAS number: 151-50-8
- 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
Acute Toxicity: oral
Administrative data
- Endpoint:
- acute toxicity: oral
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: see 'Remark'
- Remarks:
- While this is not a guideline study, these data are generated by one of the premier experts in the toxicology of cyanides, Dr. Brian Ballantyne, author of "Clinical and Experimental Toxicology of Cyanides", 1987. This data was reviewed by and found to be valid by the ECETOC Task Force on Cyanides, who authored the ECETOC JACC No. 53 report.
Cross-reference
- Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
- reference to same study
Data source
Reference
- Reference Type:
- review article or handbook
- Title:
- Toxicology of Cyanides
- Author:
- Ballantyne B
- Year:
- 1 987
- Bibliographic source:
- Clinical and Experimental Toxicology of Cyanides, (Ballantyne B and Marrs TC, ed), IOP Publishing, Wright, Bristol, UK, pp. 41-126.
Materials and methods
Test guideline
- Qualifier:
- no guideline followed
- Deviations:
- not specified
- Remarks:
- no information given on details of methods
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- A reputable corporate laboratory (Union Carbide, Danbury, CT, U.S.A., by Dr. Bryan Ballantyne, MD) generated data on lethal doses to animals, which was judged by the ECETOC Task Force to be valid.
- GLP compliance:
- not specified
- Test type:
- other: method is valid as judged by ECETOC Task Force
- Limit test:
- no
Test material
- Reference substance name:
- Potassium cyanide
- EC Number:
- 205-792-3
- EC Name:
- Potassium cyanide
- Cas Number:
- 151-50-8
- Molecular formula:
- CKN
- IUPAC Name:
- potassium cyanide
- Details on test material:
- KCN
Constituent 1
Test animals
- Species:
- rat
- Strain:
- not specified
- Sex:
- female
Administration / exposure
- Route of administration:
- oral: gavage
- Vehicle:
- not specified
- Details on study design:
- no data
- Statistics:
- 95% Confidence Limits were calculated for the LD50.
Results and discussion
Effect levels
- Sex:
- female
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Effect level:
- >= 7.49 mg/kg bw
- 95% CL:
- > 6.68 - < 8.48
- Remarks on result:
- other: This is one of 8 LD50 studies in rats which were dosed with either HCN, NaCN, KCN or Acetone Cyanohydrin (ACH). The results of all studies indicated a LD50 of < 10.0 mg/kg bw.
- Mortality:
- 50% of treated animals
- Clinical signs:
- The major target site for cyanide, where there is induction of a potentially lethal cytotoxic hypoxia, is the brain. A dose-dependent suppression of electroencephalographic activity has been observed. While large doses of cyanide produce permanent EEG silence, a reversible effect can be achieved with careful cyanide titration. Various central neuropathological features have been described in animals and, to a lesser extent, in humans following sublethal and potentially lethal doses of cyanides.
There is also evidence suggesting that the heart is an important target in the expression of severe sublethal and lethal toxicity from cyanide. During cyanide poisoning, the concentrations of cyanide are consistently high in the myocardium, irrespective of species and route of exposure. Cardiac failure is a prime factor in the acute toxicity of cyanide.
Cyanide produces increased cerebral blood flow in various species and has marked effects on general systemic blood pressure. Aortic receptor studies suggest that cyanide does not act by miscarinic, H2-histamingeric, serotonergic or alpha-adrenergic mechanisms. If cyanide has an effect on coronary arteries similar to that on the aorta, hypoxia-induced depolarization can enhance cyanide-induced coronary artery vasoconstriction, hastening myocardial ischaemia.
Any other information on results incl. tables
The LD50 of KCN in female rats is 7.49 mg/kg bw. This corresponds to 0.115 mmol/kg bw.
Applicant's summary and conclusion
- Interpretation of results:
- Toxicity Category II
- Remarks:
- Migrated information 5 < LD50 <50 Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU
- Conclusions:
- The literature on acute oral toxicity in animals was reviewed by the ECETOC Task Force. The lowest oral LD50 for rats is 7.49 (mg/kgbw) . Target organs include brain, heart and vascular tissue.
- Executive summary:
KCN is a highly toxic compound by the oral route in rats, and is classified according to Table 3.1 of Regulation EC No. 1272/2008 (Acute Toxicity Hazard Category 2). The lowest oral LD50 for KCN reported for rats is 7.49. mg/kg body weight.
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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