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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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:
long-term toxicity to birds: reproduction test
Type of information:
other: weight of evidence
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment
Justification for type of information:
The high water solubility and low vapour pressure indicate that KOH will be found predominantly in the aquatic environment. KOH is present in the environment as potassium and hydroxyl ions, which implies that it will not adsorb on particulate matter or surfaces and will not accumulate in
living tissues. It is obvious that both potassium and hydroxyl ions have a wide natural occurrence (UNEP, 1995).
Atmospheric emissions as KOH aerosols should be rapidly neutralized by carbon dioxide, as occurs with NaOH (Cooper et al., 1979) or other acids and the salts (e.g. potassium carbonate) will be washed out by rain. For this reason potential atmospheric emissions of KOH are considered of no
concern. Significant emissions to the terrestrial environment are not expected during normal handling and use of KOH. Small terrestrial emissions will be neutralized by the buffer capacity of the soil. For this reason the environmental assessment can be limited to the aquatic compartment.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
SIDS Initial Assessment Report KOH
Author:
SIDS
Year:
2002
Bibliographic source:
SIDS
Report date:
2002

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline required
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The high water solubility and low vapour pressure indicate that KOH will be found predominantly in the aquatic environment. KOH is present in the environment as potassium and hydroxyl ions, which implies that it will not adsorb on particulate matter or surfaces and will not accumulate in
living tissues. It is obvious that both potassium and hydroxyl ions have a wide natural occurrence (UNEP, 1995).
Atmospheric emissions as KOH aerosols should be rapidly neutralized by carbon dioxide, as occurs with NaOH (Cooper et al., 1979) or other acids and the salts (e.g. potassium carbonate) will be washed out by rain. For this reason potential atmospheric emissions of KOH are considered of no
concern. Significant emissions to the terrestrial environment are not expected during normal handling and use of KOH. Small terrestrial emissions will be neutralized by the buffer capacity of the soil. For this reason the environmental assessment can be limited to the aquatic compartment.

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Potassium hydroxide
EC Number:
215-181-3
EC Name:
Potassium hydroxide
Cas Number:
1310-58-3
Molecular formula:
HKO
IUPAC Name:
potassium hydroxide

Results and discussion

Effect levels
Remarks on result:
other: see remarks
Remarks:
The high water solubility and low vapour pressure indicate that KOH will be found predominantly in the aquatic environment. KOH is present in the environment as potassium and hydroxyl ions, which implies that it will not adsorb on particulate matter or surfaces and will not accumulate in living tissues. It is obvious that both potassium and hydroxyl ions have a wide natural occurrence (UNEP, 1995). Atmospheric emissions as KOH aerosols should be rapidly neutralized by carbon dioxide, as occurs with NaOH (Cooper et al., 1979) or other acids and the salts (e.g. potassium carbonate) will be washed out by rain. For this reason potential atmospheric emissions of KOH are considered of no concern. Significant emissions to the terrestrial environment are not expected during normal handling and use of KOH. Small terrestrial emissions will be neutralized by the buffer capacity of the soil. For this reason the environmental assessment can be limited to the aquatic compartment.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:
The high water solubility and low vapour pressure indicate that KOH will be found predominantly in the aquatic environment. KOH is present in the environment as potassium and hydroxyl ions, which implies that it will not adsorb on particulate matter or surfaces and will not accumulate in
living tissues. It is obvious that both potassium and hydroxyl ions have a wide natural occurrence (UNEP, 1995).
Atmospheric emissions as KOH aerosols should be rapidly neutralized by carbon dioxide, as occurs with NaOH (Cooper et al., 1979) or other acids and the salts (e.g. potassium carbonate) will be washed out by rain. For this reason potential atmospheric emissions of KOH are considered of no
concern. Significant emissions to the terrestrial environment are not expected during normal handling and use of KOH. Small terrestrial emissions will be neutralized by the buffer capacity of the soil. For this reason the environmental assessment can be limited to the aquatic compartment.
Executive summary:

The high water solubility and low vapour pressure indicate that KOH will be found predominantly in the aquatic environment. KOH is present in the environment as potassium and hydroxyl ions, which implies that it will not adsorb on particulate matter or surfaces and will not accumulate in

living tissues. It is obvious that both potassium and hydroxyl ions have a wide natural occurrence (UNEP, 1995).

Atmospheric emissions as KOH aerosols should be rapidly neutralized by carbon dioxide, as occurs with NaOH (Cooper et al., 1979) or other acids and the salts (e.g. potassium carbonate) will be washed out by rain. For this reason potential atmospheric emissions of KOH are considered of no

concern. Significant emissions to the terrestrial environment are not expected during normal handling and use of KOH. Small terrestrial emissions will be neutralized by the buffer capacity of the soil. For this reason the environmental assessment can be limited to the aquatic compartment.