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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Endpoint:
specific investigations: other studies
Type of information:
migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: see 'Remark'
Remarks:
Experimental data was reviewed by the ECETOC Task Force, author of the JACC Report No. 53, “Cyanides of Hydrogen, Sodium and Potassium, and Acetone Cyanohydrin (CAS No. 74-90-8, 143-33-9, 151-50-8 and 75-86-5)”, 2007. The report is a weight of evidence approach to an extensive body of literature, much of which was undertaken prior to development of guidelines. The report was peer reviewed by the scientific non-governmental organization (NGO), which judged the data to be reliable with restrictions.

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
publication
Title:
The blood cyanates in the treatment of hypertension
Author:
Barker MH
Year:
1936
Bibliographic source:
JAMA 106: 762-767
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Further experiences with thiocyanates
Author:
Barker MH, Lindberg HA, Wald MH
Year:
1941
Bibliographic source:
JAMA 117: 1591-1594

Materials and methods

Type of method:
in vivo

Test material

Constituent 1
Reference substance name:
Potassium thiocyanate
EC Number:
206-370-1
EC Name:
Potassium thiocyanate
Cas Number:
333-20-0
IUPAC Name:
potassium thiocyanate

Test animals

Species:
human
Sex:
male/female

Results and discussion

Details on results:
Information on possible adverse effects of thiocyanate in humans can be derived from human experience with the former use of sodium or potassum thiocyanate as an antihypertensive drug. Barker (1936) descibed his experience with thiocyanate therapy for hypertension of 45 patients that received thiocyanate therapy for 1 to 4 years. A larger follow-up study of 246 patients, treated for 4-10 years, was subsequently published Barker et al (1941). Oral doses of 300 mg/d usually led to blood levels of 50 to 100 mg SCN-/l, but in some cases higher or lower levels were obtained. When blood levels were maintained between 80 and 120 mg/l, most of the side effects could be avoided. In the first group, 3 patients and in the second group, 20 patients were identified who had indication of hypothyroidism. In the publications, the corresponding blood thiocyanate levels were not given. The rental function and the iodine status of the patients were not controlled. The authors reported that a reduction of the thiocyanate dose to 65 to 130 mg SCN ion/dl led to a recovery within 2 weeks.

Any other information on results incl. tables

The level of thiocyanate that is tolerated by humans is 65 -130 mg SCN ion per deciliter, suggestive of a human NOEL of about 20 to 40 mg SCN ion/l blood.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:
Information on possible adverse effects of thiocyanate in humans can be derived from human experience with the former use of sodium or potassiu thiocyanate as an antihypertensive drug. Barker (1936) described his experience with thiocyanate therapy for hypertension of 45 patients that received thiocyanate therapy for 1 to 4 years. A larger follow-up study of 246 patients, treated for 4-10 years, was subsequently published Barker et al (1941). Oral doses of 300 mg/d usually led to blood levels of 50 to 100 mg SCN/l, but in some cases higher or lower levels were obtained. When blood levels were maintained between 80 and 120 mg/l, most of the side effects could be avoided. In the first group, 3 patients and in the second group, 20 patients were identified who had indications of hypothyroidism. In the publications, the corresponding blood thiocyanate levels were not given. The renal function and the iodine status of the patients were not controlled. The authors reported that a reduction of the thiocyanate dose to 65 to 130 mg SCN/d led to a recovery within 2 weeks. This would be suggestive of a human NOEL of about 20 to 40 mg SCN ion/l blood.