Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Environmental fate & pathways

Monitoring data

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Endpoint:
monitoring data
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: peer-reviewed data

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
review article or handbook
Title:
ICCA HPV dossier on potassium carbonate and hydrogen carbonate.
Author:
OECD
Year:
2005
Bibliographic source:
Unpublished draft dossier for SIAM 20.

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline required
Principles of method if other than guideline:
In the SIAR (draft), the ubiquitous occurrence of potassium in the environment is reported.
GLP compliance:
no
Type of measurement:
natural background concentration
Media:
other: soil, sediment, fresh and salt water, biota

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
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

Results and discussion

Concentrationopen allclose all
Substance or metabolite:
other: potassium
Conc.:
380 mg/L
Remarks on result:
other: sea water
Substance or metabolite:
other: potassium
Conc.:
>= 0.344 - <= 3.5 other: %
Remarks on result:
other: dry matter of crops
Substance or metabolite:
other: potassium
Conc.:
>= 0.2 - <= 3.3 other: %
Remarks on result:
other: topsoil

Any other information on results incl. tables

The potassium cation is ubiquitously present in the environment, occurring naturally in minerals, soils and sediments, natural waters (oceans, lakes, rivers), biota and human beings. Potassium is the seventh most abundant element on earth, constituting 2.40% by weight of the earth’s crust. It occurs in many igneous rocks, such as feldspar, mica and, other potassium aluminum silicates, and marine sediments. Marine deposits of potassium, mainly as potassium chloride associated with sodium chloride, are found in practically all salt beds. Naturally occurring disintegration of these rocks and deposits adds potassium to soil and water. It is abundantly present in sea water at a concentration of 380 mg/l. UNEP (1995) reported concentrations for a total number of 75 rivers in North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania. The 10th –percentile, mean and 90th-percentile were 0.8, 3.2 and 6.0 mg/l respectively. The potassium concentration of topsoils is 0.2-3.3%. Potassium is an essential constituent in plants, animals, and humans. Potassium concentrations in dry matter of crops are in the range of 0.344 to 3.5%. The total amount of potassium in human beings is in the range of 40-50 mmol (154-1955 mg)/kg bw.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:
The potassium cation is ubiquitously present in the environment, occurring naturally in minerals, soils and sediments, natural waters (oceans, lakes, rivers), biota and human beings. Potassium is the seventh most abundant element on earth, constituting 2.40% by weight of the earth’s crust.
Executive summary:

The potassium cation is ubiquitously present in the environment, occurring naturally in minerals, soils and sediments, natural waters (oceans, lakes, rivers), biota and human beings. Potassium is the seventh most abundant element on earth, constituting 2.40% by weight of the earth’s crust.