Potassium arsenite

Synonyms

Arsenenous acid, potassium salt; Arsenious acid (H3AsO3), potassium salt; Arsenious acid, potassium salt; Arsenite de potassium [French]; Arsonic acid, potassium salt; Kaliumarsenit [German]; Potassium metaarsenite; Potassium metaarsenite, acid; [ChemIDplus] UN1678

Category

Arsenic Compounds, Inorganic

Description

White hygroscopic solid; Exact composition varies in commercial product; [Merck Index]

Sources/Uses

Used in mirror manufacture to reduce the silver salt to metallic silver; formerly in insecticides, weed killers, fungicides, and wood preservatives; as laboratory chemical; for various medical and veterinary applications (especially in solution); [HSDB]

Comments

A strong irritant; [Hawley] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Can cause arsenic poisoning; [ICSC] A skin irritant; [CAMEO] See "Arsenic " and the linked occupational diseases.

Biomedical References

Inorganic arsenic plus methylated metabolites in urine = 35 ug As/L; end of workweek;

0.01 mg/m3, as As

0.01 mg/m3, as As

5 mg/m3, as As

Aplastic anemia

Sensorimotor

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Established

Human carcinogen

Confirmed Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Arsenic, chronic toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)