Potassium chlorate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance: white solid. Danger! Explosive when mixed with combustible material. Strong oxidizer. Contact with other material may cause a fire. May cause severe eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation with possible burns. Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. May be harmful if swallowed. May cause blood abnormalities. May cause cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood). May cause kidney damage. Target Organs: Blood, kidneys.

Potential health effects

Eye: May cause conjunctivitis. May cause permanent corneal opacification. Skin: Contact with skin causes irritation and possible burns, especially if the skin is wet or moist. May cause severe irritation and possible burns. Ingestion: May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, and death. Methemoglobinemia is characterized by dizziness, drowsiness, headache, shortness of breath, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), rapid heart rate and chocolate-brown colored blood. May cause burns to the gastrointestinal tract. May be harmful if swallowed. May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, possibly with blood. Inhalation: Dust is irritating to the respiratory tract. May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, tachycardia, dyspnea (labored breathing), and death. May cause acute pulmonary edema, asphyxia, chemical pneumonitis, and upper airway obstruction caused by edema. Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by chocolate-brown colored blood, headache, weakness, dizziness, breath shortness, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of blood), rapid heart rate, unconsciousness and possible death.