Potassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate	Last updated: 04/10/2021
(Also known as: potassium acid carbonate; potassium hydrogen carbonate)

SUMMARY

Data alerts

The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Low alert Warning: Significant data are missing

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

Naturally occurring substance used for the control of several important fungal diseases of fruit and vegetables

Example pests controlled

Powdery mildew; Blight

Example applications

Fruit including grapes, strawberries; apples; Vegetables; Tomatoes

Efficacy & activity

Products have been available in the EU for over 10 years and assessed inline with Uniform Principles

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1994, USA

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Approved as a commodity substance and via COPR

Date COPR inclusion expires

31/08/2024

UK LERAP status

None

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Netherlands/Greece

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

31/08/2022

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece
✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓
ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg
✓		✓	✓		✓	✓		✓
LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia
		✓	✓	✓			✓	✓

Additional information

Also used in

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

KHCO₃

Canonical SMILES

C(=O)(O)[O-].[K+]

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

TYJJADVDDVDEDZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/CH2O3.K/c2-1(3)4;/h(H2,2,3,4);/q;+1/p-1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
potassium bicarbonate	-

General status

Pesticide type

Fungicide

Substance group

Inorganic compound

Minimum active substance purity

99.5%

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - Arsenic < 3 mg kg⁻¹; Lead < 10 mg kg⁻¹

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Protectant and eradicant, bicarbonate causes the collapse of hyphal walls and shrinkage of fungal conidia

CAS RN

298-14-6

EC number

206-059-0

CIPAC number

853

US EPA chemical code

073508

PubChem CID

516893

Molecular mass

100.12

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

potassium hydrogen carbonate

CAS name

carbonic acid, monopotassium salt

Other status information

Permitted in organic systems, UK registered Commodity Substance

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White granules, crystals or powder

Formulations

Property

Value

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Bioworks Inc.
Hellena Chemical Company

Example products using this active

Armicarb 100
Eco-mate Armicarb O
Milstop

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as a soluble powder

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

332000

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

20000

n-Heptane

10000

Toluene

10000

Methanol

10000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

292

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

>156

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

Not applicable

Log P

Not applicable

Bulk density (g ml⁻¹)

2.17

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

General literature quotes very rapid degradation especially in the presence of water

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

K_oc

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

Cannot be calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Potential for loss via drain flow

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Low potential

CT₅₀ (days)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2064

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 1200

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 860

Daphnia magna

Low

Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Low risk

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

271.86

Chironomus riparius 48 hr EC₅₀

Low

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

> 87.5

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Low

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 368

Apis mellifera

Low

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 24

Apis mellifera as sodium salt

Moderate

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other pollinators (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other pollinators (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Other soil macro-organisms

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Other arthropod (1)

LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

% Effect

Other arthropod (2)

LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

% Effect

Soil micro-organisms

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2064

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 4.88

Rat 4 hr (whole body)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

149

Dermal penetration studies (%)

10-50

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

No identified risks

Occupational

No identified risks

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

No further information available

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not flammable, explosive or oxidising

CLP classification 2013

Health: None allocated

EC Risk Classification

Xi - Irritant: R36, R37, R38

EC Safety Classification

WHO Classification

NL (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

potassium bicarbonate

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Record last updated:	04/10/2021
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242