Potassium thiocyanate

Synonyms

Arterocyn; Aterocyn; Kyonate; Potassium isothiocyanate; Potassium rhodanate; Potassium sulfocyanate; Potassium thiocyanide; Rhocya; Rodanca; Thio-cara; Thiocyanic acid, potassium salt; [ChemIDplus] Potassium rhodanide; [Merck Index]

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Colorless deliquescent solid; [Merck Index]

Sources/Uses

Used to make mustard oil, for printing and dyeing textiles, in photography (intensifier), and as a therapeutic hypotensive; [Merck Index] Used as a contact fungicide for green house vegetables and ornamentals and green house and open field strawberries; [ExPub: EFSA: DAR - Vol. 1]

Comments

Toxic effects include skin eruptions, psychosis, and collapse; [Merck Index] May cause CNS effects (excitement and convulsions); Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause thyroid and CNS effects leading to impaired function and hypothyroidism; [ICSC] Human ingestion of 80 mg/kg causes hallucinations, convulsions, and muscle weakness; Human ingestion of 428 mg/kg causes toxic psychosis, hallucinations, and gastritis; [RTECS] Sheep exposed orally during gestation produced goiter in newborn lambs; Effects to female fertility observed in rats at high doses; Another study demonstrated maternal and fetal toxicity with no increase in congenital defects; [REPROTOX] Harmful by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; Targets the CNS, cardiovascular system, and thyroid; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS] See "Sodium thiocyanate."

Biomedical References

Other CNS neurotoxin

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)
• Photographic Processing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)