| Regulatory information | Hazard Traits - HematotoxicityRegulation (EC) No 257/2010 |
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| DOT label | Oxidizer |
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| Fire hazards | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Health hazards | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Reactive group | Nitrate and Nitrite Compounds, Inorganic |
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| Reactivity Alerts | Strong Oxidizing Agent |
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| Reactivity Profile | NITRITES, INORGANIC, N.O.S. are oxidizing agents. React with acids to form toxic nitrogen dioxide gas. A violent explosion occurs if an ammonium salt is melted with a nitrite salt [Von Schwartz 1918. p 299]. A mixture with potassium cyanide may cause an explosion [Pieters 1957. p. 30]. |
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| DOT Hazard Classification | Nitrites, inorganic, aqueous solution, n.o.sUN3219Div 5.1 Oxidizer (49 eCFR § 173.127)PG II: the degree of danger presented by the material is mediumSymbol G: The proper shipping name for which one or more technical names of the hazardous material must be entered in parentheses, in association with the basic description. (49 eCFR §172.203(k))Nitrites, inorganic, n.o.s. |
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| Air and Water Reactions | No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water. |
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| Fire fighting | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| First aid | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Nonfire spill response | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Isolation and Evacuation | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Excerpt from ERG Guide 140 [Oxidizers]: |
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| Treatment | 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) |
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| Target organs | Hematologic |
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| Health effects | Nitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Nitrites may cause pregnancy complications and developmental effects. They may also be carcinogenic. (L1137) |
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| Exposure routes | Oral (L1137)inhalation (L1137) |
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| Toxicity summary | 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) |
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| Signs and Symptoms | 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) |
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| EPA IRIS Information | NitriteHematologic1 x 10 ^-1 mg/kg-day |
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| Carcinogen Classification | Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). (L135) |
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| RAIS Toxicity Values | 0.1ATSDR FinalIRIS Current |
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| USGS Health-Based Screening Levels for Evaluating Water-Quality | Nitrogen, Nitrite00613Nutrient1000Nitrite (as N)Smith, C.D. and Nowell, L.H., 2024. Health-Based Screening Levels for evaluating water-quality data (3rd ed.). DOI:10.5066/F71C1TWP |
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| Hazard Quotient Level 0.1 or Cancer Risk Level 1E-06 | 7.80e+031.20e+052.00e+031.00e+031.00e-01Volatile |
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| Hazard Quotient Level 3 or Cancer Risk Level 1E-04 | 2.30e+043.50e+056.00e+031.00e+031.00e-01Volatile |
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