Potassium carbonate

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

other: exposure related observations

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: exposure related observations

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

other company data

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2007

Report date:

2007

Materials and methods

Study type:

other: accidental exposure

Endpoint addressed:

eye irritation

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline required

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Potassium carbonate

EC Number:

209-529-3

EC Name:

Potassium carbonate

Cas Number:

584-08-7

Molecular formula:

CH2O3.2K

IUPAC Name:

dipotassium carbonate

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Subjects:

- Number of subjects exposed: 1
- Sex: male
- Age: 51
- Race: no data
- Demographic information: employee of chemical company, production workers
- Known diseases: no data

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Route of exposure:

ocular

Reason of exposure:

accidental

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Details on exposure:

During filling process substance was brought into the right eye.

Examinations:

examination by company medical officer and ophthalmologist

Medical treatment:

Rinsing with water and neutralisation with "Previn" at place of accident; at plant medical department treatment with eye drops "Novesine" and rinsing with "Morgan lens" by company medical officer; transport to ophthalmology hospital; at hospital treatment with eye medications "Inflanefran", "Isopto", "Refobacin" and "Corneregel" several times for 3 days.

Results and discussion

Results of examinations:

Diagnosis by physicians: conjunctiva reddened, motor activity of eyes without findings, no opacity of vitreous and lens, slight lacrimation, slight irritation.

Effectivity of medical treatment:

Reduction of observed irritation parameters. After one week of observation no more findings were reported.

Outcome of incidence:

Evaluation by ophthalmologist one week after accident: cornea intact; according to information from company medical officer no long-term sequela, no irreversible damages have been observed.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

In accidental exposures, potassium carbonate induced slight to moderate eye irritation which healed under medical treatment completely without permanent damages.

Executive summary:

In the Case report from 2007-06-04 the accidental exposure of an employee (male, 51 years old) to potash via ocular route is reported. The conjunctiva reddened, motor activity of eyes without findings, no opacity of vitreous and lens, slight lacrimation, slight irritation were observed. After one week of observation no more findings were reported.