3592 Potassium nitrite Potassium nitrite is a chemical compound of potassium and nitrite ions. It is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. Nitrite is a toxic compound known to cause methemoglobinemia. (L1137, L1616) 7758-09-0 516910 KNO2 84.956610 White powder. 440°C (decomp) Oral (L1137) ; inhalation (L1137) Nitrite causes the autocatalytic oxidation of oxyhemoglobin to hydrogen peroxide and methemoglobin. This elevation of methemoglobin levels is a condition known as methemoglobinemia, and is characterized by tissue hypoxia, as methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen. (A2450, L1613) Nitrites and their metabolites are excreted in the urine. (L1137) LC50: 85 g/m3 over 2 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (T13) 10 to 100 mg/kg for an adult human. (L1618) Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). (L135) Potassium nitrite is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. (L1616) Nitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Nitrites may cause pregnancy complications and developmental effects. They may also be carcinogenic. (L1137) Nitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Symptoms include cyanosis, cardiac dysrhythmias and circulatory failure, and progressive central nervous system (CNS) effects. CNS effects can range from mild dizziness and lethargy to coma and convulsions. (L1137) Methemoglobinemia can be treated with supplemental oxygen and methylene blue 1% solution administered intravenously slowly over five minutes followed by IV flush with normal saline. Methylene blue restores the iron in hemoglobin to its normal (reduced) oxygen-carrying state. (L1613) 2009-08-05T14:21:34Z 2026-04-05T18:43:14Z http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrite Potassium nitrite 12168 true [K+].[O-]N=O KNO2 InChI=1S/K.HNO2/c;2-1-3/h;(H,2,3)/q+1;/p-1 BXNHTSHTPBPRFX-UHFFFAOYSA-M 85.1038 84.95661011 Exogenous Solid 22857 CHEM002540 NS00081370 52.49 7.6 2.4448587770475987 0 3 0 3.320000070774052 -3.4679102843579623 -1 0