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Sodium Nitrite

PubChem CID
23668193
Structure
Sodium Nitrite_small.png
Molecular Formula
Synonyms
  • SODIUM NITRITE
  • 7632-00-0
  • Nitrous acid, sodium salt
  • sodium;nitrite
  • Nitrite, sodium
Molecular Weight
68.995 g/mol
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Dates
  • Create:
    2008-02-05
  • Modify:
    2025-01-25
Description
Sodium nitrite appears as a yellowish white crystalline solid. Noncombustible but will accelerate the burning of combustible material. If large quantities are involved in a fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result. If contaminated by ammonium compounds, spontaneous decomposition can occur and the resulting heat may ignite surrounding combustible material. Prolonged exposure heat may result in an explosion. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires involving this material. Used as a food preservative, and to make other chemicals.
Sodium nitrite solution appears as a clear colorless to yellow solution. Harmful to the environment and somewhat toxic. Used as a preservative, and to make other chemicals.
Sodium nitrite is an inorganic sodium salt having nitrite as the counterion. Used as a food preservative and antidote to cyanide poisoning. It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, an antihypertensive agent, a food antioxidant, a poison and an antidote to cyanide poisoning. It is a nitrite salt and an inorganic sodium salt.
See also: Nitrite Ion (has active moiety); Sodium nitrite; sodium thiosulfate (component of) ... View More ...

1 Structures

1.1 2D Structure

Chemical Structure Depiction
Sodium Nitrite.png

1.2 3D Status

Conformer generation is disallowed since MMFF94s unsupported element, mixture or salt

2 Names and Identifiers

2.1 Computed Descriptors

2.1.1 IUPAC Name

sodium;nitrite
Computed by Lexichem TK 2.7.0 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.2 InChI

InChI=1S/HNO2.Na/c2-1-3;/h(H,2,3);/q;+1/p-1
Computed by InChI 1.0.6 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.3 InChIKey

LPXPTNMVRIOKMN-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Computed by InChI 1.0.6 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.4 SMILES

N(=O)[O-].[Na+]
Computed by OEChem 2.3.0 (PubChem release 2024.12.12)

2.2 Molecular Formula

NO2.Na
NaNO2
NaNO2
NNaO2
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.3 Other Identifiers

2.3.1 CAS

7632-00-0

2.3.2 Deprecated CAS

1992765-27-1, 32863-15-3, 56227-20-4, 82497-43-6, 82998-40-1
56227-20-4, 82497-43-6, 82998-40-1

2.3.3 European Community (EC) Number

231-555-9

2.3.4 UNII

2.3.5 UN Number

2.3.6 ChEBI ID

2.3.7 ChEMBL ID

2.3.8 DSSTox Substance ID

2.3.9 HMDB ID

2.3.10 ICSC Number

2.3.11 KEGG ID

2.3.12 Nikkaji Number

2.3.13 PharmGKB ID

2.3.14 RXCUI

2.3.15 Wikidata

2.3.16 Wikipedia

2.4 Synonyms

2.4.1 MeSH Entry Terms

  • Nitrite, Sodium
  • Sodium Nitrite

2.4.2 Depositor-Supplied Synonyms

3 Chemical and Physical Properties

3.1 Computed Properties

Property Name
Molecular Weight
Property Value
68.995 g/mol
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count
Property Value
3
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Rotatable Bond Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Exact Mass
Property Value
68.98267252 Da
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Monoisotopic Mass
Property Value
68.98267252 Da
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Topological Polar Surface Area
Property Value
52.5 Ų
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Heavy Atom Count
Property Value
4
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Formal Charge
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Complexity
Property Value
13.5
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Isotope Atom Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count
Property Value
2
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Compound Is Canonicalized
Property Value
Yes
Reference
Computed by PubChem (release 2021.10.14)

3.2 Experimental Properties

3.2.1 Physical Description

Sodium nitrite appears as a yellowish white crystalline solid. Noncombustible but will accelerate the burning of combustible material. If large quantities are involved in a fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result. If contaminated by ammonium compounds, spontaneous decomposition can occur and the resulting heat may ignite surrounding combustible material. Prolonged exposure heat may result in an explosion. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires involving this material. Used as a food preservative, and to make other chemicals.
Sodium nitrite solution appears as a clear colorless to yellow solution. Harmful to the environment and somewhat toxic. Used as a preservative, and to make other chemicals.
Pellets or Large Crystals, Liquid; Other Solid; Dry Powder, Water or Solvent Wet Solid; Liquid; Dry Powder
White crystalline powder or yellowish lumps
White or slightly yellow hygroscopic solid; [Merck Index]
HYGROSCOPIC WHITE-TO-YELLOW SOLID IN VARIOUS FORMS.

3.2.2 Color / Form

White, orthorhombic crystals
Lide, D.R. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 86TH Edition 2005-2006. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL 2005, p. 4-87
White or slightly yellow granules, rods, or powder
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544
Slightly yellowish or white crystals, pellets, sticks or powder
Lewis, R.J. Sr.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 14th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 2001., p. 1019

3.2.3 Taste

Slightly salty taste
Lewis, R.J. Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 10th ed. Volumes 1-3 New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1999., p. V3: 3265

3.2.4 Boiling Point

Decomposes at 608 °F (NTP, 1992)
National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
239 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

3.2.5 Melting Point

520 °F (NTP, 1992)
National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
30 °F (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
271 °C
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544
No melting point; decomposes at 280 °C

3.2.6 Solubility

greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 66 °F (NTP, 1992)
National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Sol in water; moderately sol in methanol; sparingly soluble in diethyl ether
Lewis, R.J. Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 10th ed. Volumes 1-3 New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1999., p. V3: 3265
Slightly soluble in ethanol
Lide, D.R. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 86TH Edition 2005-2006. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL 2005, p. 4-87
Sol in 1.5 parts cold, 0.6 parts boiling water.
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544
84.8 g/100 g of water at 25 °C
Lide, D.R. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 86TH Edition 2005-2006. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL 2005, p. 4-87
0.3 G/100 CC ETHER AT 20 °C; 4.4 G/100 CC METHANOL AT 20 °C; 3 G/100 CC ABS ALC AT 20 °C; VERY SOL IN AMMONIA.
Weast, R.C. (ed.) Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 69th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press Inc., 1988-1989., p. B-131
Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 82

3.2.7 Density

2.17 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
1.32 at 60.8 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
2.17
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544
2.2 g/cm³

3.2.8 LogP

-3.7

3.2.9 Stability / Shelf Life

Very slowly oxidizes to nitrate in air.
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1365
Soln of sodium nitrite are unstable & should be prepared directly before use; cannot be dispensed in acidic vehicles
Osol, A. (ed.). Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 16th ed. Easton, Pennsylvania: Mack Publishing Co., 1980., p. 782

3.2.10 Autoignition Temperature

1000 °F (NTP, 1992)
National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

3.2.11 Decomposition

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /nitrogen oxide and sodium oxide/.
Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. 3266
Decomp above 320 °C; Decomp even by weak acids with evolution of brown fumes of nitrogen oxide.
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1365
below boiling point

3.2.12 pH

Aq soln is alkaline, pH about 9
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544

3.2.13 Refractive Index

Refractive index at 598 nm: alpha=1.35, beta=1.65, gamma=1.65
Laue W et al; Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 7th ed. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Nitrates and Nitrites. Online Posting Date: June 15, 2000.

3.2.14 Other Experimental Properties

Hygroscopic. Decomposes above 320 °C.
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544

3.3 SpringerMaterials Properties

3.4 Chemical Classes

Nitrogen Compounds -> Nitrates and Nitrites

3.4.1 Drugs

3.4.1.1 Human Drugs
Human drug -> Prescription; Active ingredient (SODIUM NITRITE)
Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings > Specific

3.4.2 Cosmetics

Anticorrosive
S13 | EUCOSMETICS | Combined Inventory of Ingredients Employed in Cosmetic Products (2000) and Revised Inventory (2006) | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.2624118

3.4.3 Endocrine Disruptors

Potential endocrine disrupting compound
S109 | PARCEDC | List of 7074 potential endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) by PARC T4.2 | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10944198

3.4.4 Food Additives

ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT -> FDA Substance added to food

4 Spectral Information

4.1 1D NMR Spectra

4.1.1 17O NMR Spectra

Copyright
Copyright © 2016-2024 W. Robien, Inst. of Org. Chem., Univ. of Vienna. All Rights Reserved.
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4.2 IR Spectra

4.2.1 FTIR Spectra

1 of 2
Technique
KBr WAFER
Source of Sample
J. T. Baker Chemical Company
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
2 of 2
Technique
KBr WAFER
Source of Sample
Mallinckrodt Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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4.2.2 ATR-IR Spectra

Source of Sample
Sigma-Aldrich
Catalog Number
431605
Copyright
Copyright © 2018-2024 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. - Database Compilation Copyright © 2018-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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4.3 Raman Spectra

1 of 2
Instrument Name
Bio-Rad FTS 175C with Raman accessory
Technique
FT-Raman
Source of Sample
Mallinckrodt Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
2 of 2
Instrument Name
Bio-Rad FTS 175C with Raman accessory
Technique
FT-Raman
Source of Sample
Mallinckrodt Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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6 Chemical Vendors

7 Drug and Medication Information

7.1 Drug Indication

7.2 WHO Essential Medicines

Drug
Drug Classes
Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings > Specific
Formulation
Parenteral - General injections - IV: 30 mg per mL in 10 mL ampoule
Indication
Harmful effects of or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere classified

7.3 FDA Approved Drugs

7.4 FDA Orange Book

7.5 FDA National Drug Code Directory

7.6 Drug Labels

Drug and label
Active ingredient and drug

7.7 Clinical Trials

7.7.1 ClinicalTrials.gov

7.7.2 EU Clinical Trials Register

7.8 Therapeutic Uses

Antidotes ...
National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings online file (MeSH, 1999)
Has been used as a vasodilator; as a circulatory (blood pressure) depressant and to relieve smooth muscle spasm.
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1365
Antidote for cyanide poisoning.
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1365
MEDICATION (VET): In cyanide poisoning.
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 1365
For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (12 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

7.9 Reported Fatal Dose

General Toxicity Study: oral human, LDLo 71 mg/kg, coma, gastrointestinal effects, and methemoglobinemia; oral child, LDLo 22 mg/kg, vascular effects.
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 27, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
The lethal oral dose of nitrite for adults has been variously reported to be between 0.7 and 6 g NO2- (approximately 10 to 100 mg NO2-/kg). /Nitrite/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
10 to 100 mg/kg for an adult human. (L1618)
L1618: International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) INCHEM (1996). Poison Information Monograph for Nitrates and Nitrites. http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm

7.10 Maximum Drug Dose

... Sodium nitrite as medication for vasodilation or as antidote in cyanide poisoning /admin/ doses of 30 to 300 mg/person, equivalent to 0.5 to 5 mg/kg bw, did not cause toxic effects.
WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 30, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm

8 Food Additives and Ingredients

8.1 Food Additive Classes

JECFA Functional Classes
COLOUR_RETENTION_AGENT;

8.2 FDA Substances Added to Food

Used for (Technical Effect)
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT

8.3 Evaluations of the Joint FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives - JECFA

Chemical Name
SODIUM NITRITE
Evaluation Year
2002
ADI
0-0.07 mg/kg bw
Comments
Evaluated as nitrite and expressed as nitrite ion. ADI applies to all sources of intake but not to infants below the age of 3 months. JECFA established an ADI of 0-0.07 mg/kg/bw, expressed as nitrite ion, on the basis of the NOEL of 6.7 mg/kg bw/day for effects on the heart and lung in a 2-year study in rats and a safety factor of 100. Nitrite causes methemoglobinemia. JECFA noted that as this might occur after a single dose, it would be appreciate to establish an acute reference dose for nitrite. The data available for review at the present JECFA meeting were however not relevant for establishing an acute reference dose.
Tox Monograph

9 Pharmacology and Biochemistry

9.1 MeSH Pharmacological Classification

Food Preservatives
Substances capable of inhibiting, retarding or arresting the process of fermentation, acidification or other deterioration of foods. (See all compounds classified as Food Preservatives.)
Indicators and Reagents
Substances used for the detection, identification, analysis, etc. of chemical, biological, or pathologic processes or conditions. Indicators are substances that change in physical appearance, e.g., color, at or approaching the endpoint of a chemical titration, e.g., on the passage between acidity and alkalinity. Reagents are substances used for the detection or determination of another substance by chemical or microscopical means, especially analysis. Types of reagents are precipitants, solvents, oxidizers, reducers, fluxes, and colorimetric reagents. (From Grant and Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p301, p499) (See all compounds classified as Indicators and Reagents.)

9.2 ATC Code

V - Various

V03 - All other therapeutic products

V03A - All other therapeutic products

V03AB - Antidotes

V03AB08 - Sodium nitrite

V03AB08

9.3 Absorption, Distribution and Excretion

In mice given 400, 800, or 1200 mg sodium nitrite orally in drinking water 99.1 to 99.5% of the dose was eliminated. The remaining nitrite was transformed into nitrate & recovered from the liver & muscle.
CANTONI C ET AL; ARCH VET ITAL 32 (1-2): 7 (1981)
Nitrate and nitrite given orally are absorbed and transferred to the blood in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Abundant pectin in the food may delay absorption which may then occur lower down in the intestine, with possible increased risk for microbial transformation of nitrate into nitrite. /Nitrate and nitrite/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
Regardless of route of exposure, nitrate and nitrite are rapidly transferred into the blood. Nitrite is gradually oxidized to nitrate which is readily distributed into most body fluids (urine, saliva, gastric juice, sweat, ileostomy fluid). Distribution of nitrate into plasma, erythrocytes, saliva and urine following an oral dose of sodium nitrate has been demonstrated ... /Nitrate and nitrite/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
... Transplacental passage of nitrite occurred in pregnant rats given doses at 2.5-50 mg/kg orally ...
National Research Council. Drinking Water & Health Volume 1. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1977., p. 420
For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

9.4 Metabolism / Metabolites

... Intestinal bacteria were involved in the reduction of nitrite ... Absorbed nitrite is rapidly oxidized to nitrate in the blood by a mammalian process ... The process of nitrate generation parallels the methemoglobin (MetHb) formation ... Nitrite oxidation to nitrate may also occur in the stomach prior to absorption, as demonstrated in vitro for mice. However, under in vivo conditions, nitrite is probably absorbed from the stomach before large quantities of nitrate are formed. /Nitrite/
WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 27, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm
... Nitrite may be further reduced to nitrogen by bacteria under some conditions. In blood, nitrite transforms hemoglobin to methemoglobin and is simultaneously oxidized to nitrate. Normally methemoglobin gradually reverts to hemoglobin through enzymatic reactions. Nitrite has vasodilating properties, probably through transformation into nitric oxide (NO) or a NO-containing molecule acting as a signal factor for smooth muscle relaxation. Nitrite easily transforms into a nitrosating agent in an acidic environment and can react with a variety of compounds, eg ascorbic acid, amines, amides. Nitrosation can also be mediated by bacteria, eg in the stomach. Some reaction products are carcinogenic (eg most nitrosoamines and amides). /Nitrate and nitrite/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
No or very slight increase in blood nitrosamine level was found in human subjects after consumption of nitrate-, nitrite-, and/or amine-rich meals /Nitrate, nitrite, and amine/
WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 27, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm
The details of nitrite metabolism became a more complex when it was recognized that conversion of nitrite into nitric oxide can occur under certain physiological conditions such as hypoxia. This represents a reversal of the well-known nitric oxide-to-nitrite/nitrate pathways. As noted earlier, experiments in the 1980s showed that the nitrite ion could react with deoxygenated hemoglobin to release nitric oxide, but these experiments were carried out in vitro and their potential physiological relevance was not apparent. Zweier et al. (1995) reported that, in a perfused heart model for ischaemia, nitrite ion was converted in vivo directly into nitric oxide, which demonstrated that the earlier observations did in fact have biochemical implications. These studies have been followed by several related experiments indicating a renewed interest in the biochemistry of nitrite/nitrate. A model for nitrite/nitrate metabolism has emerged based on extensive and sometimes subtle interactions among ingested and endogenously synthesized nitrate, nitrite, nitric oxide and some related species, and the physiology of the organism.
IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V. 94: p. 272(2010)
Nitrites and their metabolites are excreted in the urine. (L1137)
L1137: ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2007). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/nitrate/nitrate.html

9.5 Mechanism of Action

There is an active endogenous nitrogen cycle in humans that involves nitrate and nitrite, which are interconvertible in vivo. Nitrosating agents that arise from nitrite under acidic gastric conditions react readily with nitrosatable compounds, especially secondary amines and amides, to generate N-nitroso compounds. These nitrosating conditions are enhanced following ingestion of additional nitrate, nitrite or nitrosatable compounds. Some of the N-nitroso compounds that could be formed in humans under these conditions are known carcinogens.
IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V. 94: p. 323 (2010)
To clarify the mechanisms underlying forestomach carcinogenesis in rats by co-treatment with catechol and sodium nitrite (NaNO2), /the authors/ investigated the involvement of oxidative stress resulting from reaction of the two compounds. Since generation of semiquinone radical, hydroxyl radical (*OH), and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) arose through the reaction of catechol with NO, we proposed that superoxide resulting from catechol oxidation reacted with excess NO, consequently yielding *OH via ONOO-. Male F344 rats were co-treated with 0.2% catechol in the diet and 0.8% NaNO2 in the drinking water for 2 weeks. Prior to occurrence of histological evidence indicating epithelial injury and hyperplasia, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in forestomach epithelium significantly increased from 12 hr together with appearance of immunohistochemically nitrotyrosine-positive epithelial cells. There were no remarkable changes in rats given each chemical alone. We conclude that oxidative stress due to NO plays an important role in induction of forestomach epithelial damage, cell proliferation, and thus presumably forestomach carcinogenesis.
Ishii Y et al; Arch Biochem Biophys 447 (2): 127-35 (2006)
... The major concern of possible long-term effects of exposure to nitrate and nitrite is associated with formation of nitroso compounds, many of which are carcinogenic. This formation may take place wherever nitrite and nitrosable compounds are present, but it is favored by acidic conditions or the presence of some bacteria. The gastrointestinal tract and especially the stomach is regarded as the main formation site, but nitrosation reactions can also take place in an infected urinary bladder ... /Nitrate and nitrite poisoning/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
The two basic actions of sodium nitrite in vivo are relaxation of smooth muscle, especially of small blood vessels, and in toxic doses the conversion of hemoglobin to methemoglobin.
Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984., p. III-314
For more Mechanism of Action (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

10 Use and Manufacturing

10.1 Uses

EPA CPDat Chemical and Product Categories
The Chemical and Products Database, a resource for exposure-relevant data on chemicals in consumer products, Scientific Data, volume 5, Article number: 180125 (2018), DOI:10.1038/sdata.2018.125
Sources/Uses
Used for dyeing and printing textile fabrics (color fixative); for bleaching flax, silk, and linen; for recovering tin from scrap; as a preservative in meats, meat products, and fish; as an intermediate in metal treatment and finishing operations; Also used in photography, rubber accelerators, heat-transfer salts, de-tinning solutions and multipurpose greases, drugs (vasodilator, smooth muscle relaxant, and antidote for cyanide poisoning), and to make nitroso and isonitroso compounds, diazo dyes, pharmaceuticals, agricultural pesticides, and other organic chemicals; [HSDB]
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure
The active ingredient is no longer contained in any registered products ... "cancelled."
United States Environmental Protection Agency/ Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances; Status of Pesticides in Registration, Reregistration, and Special Review. (1998) EPA 738-R-98-002, p. 318
Component of heat-transfer salts; chem in metal treatment & finishing operations; component of detinning solution & multipurpose greases; agent for recovery of tin from scrap.
SRI
Serves as an anti-corrosion inhibitor for multipurpose greases.
Porkorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: January 27, 2006.
Large amounts of sodium nitrite are consumed in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for the production of nitroso and isonitroso compounds, diazotization reactions (especially for dyes), and the synthesis of pharmaceuticals (e.g., caffeine) and agricultural pesticides (e.g., pyramin).
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 6th ed.Vol 1: Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2003 to Present, p. V22 699 (2003)
For more Uses (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (13 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
Sodium nitrite is used mainly as a color fixative and preservative in meats and fish. Sodium nitrite may also be used in organic synthesis, in dyeing and printing textile fabrics, in photography, as a laboratory reagent and a corrosion inhibitor, and in the manufacture of rubber chemicals. Sodium nitrite also has been used in human and veterinary medicine as a vasodilator, a bronchodilator, and an antidote for cyanide poisoning. (L1617)
L1617: Wikipedia. Sodium nitrite. Last Updated 4 August 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite

10.1.1 Use Classification

Food additives
Human Drugs -> FDA Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (Orange Book) -> Active Ingredients
COLOUR_RETENTION_AGENT; -> JECFA Functional Classes
Hazard Classes and Categories ->
Cosmetics -> Anticorrosive
S13 | EUCOSMETICS | Combined Inventory of Ingredients Employed in Cosmetic Products (2000) and Revised Inventory (2006) | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.2624118

10.1.2 Industry Uses

  • Paint additives and coating additives not described by other categories
  • Processing aids, not otherwise listed
  • Plating agents and surface treating agents
  • Cleaning agent
  • Corrosion inhibitor
  • Processing aids not otherwise specified
  • Preservative
  • Propellants and blowing agents
  • Fixing agent (mordant)
  • Corrosion inhibitors and anti-scaling agents
  • Intermediate
  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • Oxidizing/reducing agents
  • UV stabilizer
  • Oxidizing agent
  • Heat transferring agent
  • Antioxidant
  • Adhesion/cohesion promoter
  • Other (specify)

10.1.3 Consumer Uses

  • UV stabilizer
  • Oxidizing agent
  • Corrosion inhibitors and anti-scaling agents
  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • Corrosion inhibitor
  • Paint additives and coating additives not described by other categories

10.1.4 Household Products

Household & Commercial/Institutional Products

Information on 184 consumer products that contain Sodium nitrite in the following categories is provided:

• Auto Products

• Commercial / Institutional

• Hobby/Craft

• Home Maintenance

• Inside the Home

• Landscaping/Yard

• Pesticides

• Pet Care

10.2 Methods of Manufacturing

By heating sodium nitrate until it fuses ... adding sufficient metallic lead to completely reduce nitrate to nitrite. ... mixt is lixiviated with water, filtered, partially evaporated, & allowed to crystallize.
Osol, A. and J.E. Hoover, et al. (eds.). Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 15th ed. Easton, Pennsylvania: Mack Publishing Co., 1975., p. 779
Synthesized by a number of chemical reactions involving the reduction of sodium nitrate by exposure to heat, light, and ionizing radiation, addition of lead metal to fused sodium nitrate at 400-450 °C, reaction of the nitrate in the presence of sodium ferrate and nitric oxide at about 400 °C, contacting molten sodium nitrate with hydrogen, and electrolyte reduction of sodium nitrate in a cell having a cation-exchange membrane, rhodium-plated titanium anode, and lead cathode.
Porkorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: January 27, 2006.
Reaction of nitrogen oxides with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide solution.
Laue W et al; Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 7th ed. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Online Posting Date: June 15, 2000.
Large-scale production of sodium nitrite is now based on the reaction of nitrogen oxides with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide solution.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 6th ed.Vol 1: Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2003 to Present, p. V22 698 (2003)

10.3 Formulations / Preparations

Grade: Reagent; Technical; USP; FCC.
Lewis, R.J. Sr.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 14th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 2001., p. 1019
Sodium nitrite is sold as the salt and in solution. The finely crystalline, slightly yellowish salt is marketed in untreated form and also after treatment with aryl alkyl sulfonates. The salt contains ca. 99.0 % sodium nitrite, 0.6 % sodium nitrate, < 0.1 % sodium chloride and sodium sulfate, and < 0.1 % water.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 6th ed.Vol 1: Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2003 to Present, p. V22 699 (2003)

10.4 U.S. Production

Aggregated Product Volume

2019: 10,000,000 - <50,000,000 lb

2018: 10,000,000 - <50,000,000 lb

2017: 10,000,000 - <50,000,000 lb

2016: 50,000,000 - <100,000,000 lb

(1977) AT LEAST 5.0X10+9 G
SRI
Production volumes for non-confidential chemicals reported under the Inventory Update Rule: Reported range in 1986 >500,000 lb - 1 million lb; reported range in 1990 and 1994 10,000-500,000 lb; no reports in 1998; reported range in 2002 10,000-500,000 lb.
Year
1986
Production Range (pounds)
>500 thousand-1 million
Year
1990
Production Range (pounds)
>10 thousand-500 thousand
Year
1994
Production Range (pounds)
>10 thousand-500 thousand
Year
1998
Production Range (pounds)
No Reports
Year
2002
Production Range (pounds)
>10 thousand-500 thousand
US EPA; Non-confidential Production Volume Information Submitted by Companies for Chemicals Under the 1986-2002 Inventory Update Rule (IUR). Nitrous acid, sodium salt (7632-00-0). Available from, as of November 8, 2006: https://www.epa.gov/oppt/iur/tools/data/2002-vol.html

10.5 U.S. Imports

(1978) 3.94X10+9 G
SRI
(1982) 4.68X10+9 G
SRI
(1984) 8.14X10+9 g
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION AND GENERAL IMPORTS 1984 p.1-351

10.6 U.S. Exports

(1984) 4.03X10+11 g /Sodium compounds, NSPF/
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. U.S. EXPORTS, SCHEDULE E, 1984 p.2-93

10.7 General Manufacturing Information

Industry Processing Sectors
  • Adhesive Manufacturing
  • Other (requires additional information)
  • All Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing
  • Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
  • Paint and Coating Manufacturing
  • All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
  • Miscellaneous Manufacturing
  • Food, beverage, and tobacco product manufacturing
  • Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • Non-metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (includes clay, glass, cement, concrete, lime, gypsum, and other non-metallic mineral product manufacturing)
  • All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing
  • Plastics Product Manufacturing
  • Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
  • Utilities
  • Paper Manufacturing
  • Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing
  • Wood Product Manufacturing
EPA TSCA Commercial Activity Status
Nitrous acid, sodium salt (1:1): ACTIVE
EPA TSCA Regulatory Flag
S - indicates a substance that is identified in a final Significant New Use Rule.
Incompatibilities: acetanilide, antipyrine, chlorates, hypophosphites, iodides, mercury salts, permanganates, sulfites, tannic acid, vegetable astringent decoctions, infusions or tinctures.
O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1544
Addition of sodium nitrite to meat that accounts for 7% of the entire US food supply is generally believed to have reduced the risk of botulism in humans to almost zero. Nitrite retards the growth of botulinum spores, which are prevalent in food.
Booth, N.H., L.E. McDonald (eds.). Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 5th ed. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1982., p. 1100
Nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) ... combines with sodium nitrite used as a corrosion inhibitor.
Bingham, E.; Cohrssen, B.; Powell, C.H.; Patty's Toxicology Volumes 1-9 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons. New York, N.Y. (2001)., p. 4:635

11 Identification

11.1 Analytic Laboratory Methods

Hydrazine method, applicable in presence or absence of nitrates or chlorides, is used to determine nitrites in drug tablets by titration with iodine. /Nitrites/
Association of Official Analytic Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC. 14th ed. Arlington, VA: Association of Official Analytic Chemists, Inc., 1984., p. 681/36.105
Colorimetric method for determination of ... nitrite in cured meat. /Nitrite/
Furia, T.E. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Food Additives. 2nd ed. Cleveland: The Chemical Rubber Co., 1972., p. 155
Modified Jones Reductor used to determine nitrate & nitrite in cheeses containing greater than or equal to 1 ppm nitrite. /Nitrates & nitrites/
Association of Official Analytic Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC. 14th ed. Arlington, VA: Association of Official Analytic Chemists, Inc., 1984., p. 310/16.278-2832
Titration with sodium thiosulfate used to determine nitrites (including sodium nitrite) in dry cure mix or curing pickle preservatives. I
Association of Official Analytic Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC. 14th ed. Arlington, VA: Association of Official Analytic Chemists, Inc., 1984., p. 385/20.090-092
For more Analytic Laboratory Methods (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

11.2 Clinical Laboratory Methods

Sample collection: Arterial blood sampling reveals a characteristic chocolate-brown color. Methemoglobin concentrations can be quantified by spectrophotometry and should be measured immediately. Biochemical analysis: Total hemoglobin, blood count. Serum electrolytes, especially potassium. Acid-base balance. Arterial blood gases. Urine analysis. Toxicological analysis: The most relevant investigation is methemoglobin concentration which correlates well with symptoms and should be monitored according to the clinical condition. /Nitrate and nitrite poisoning/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 25, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm

12 Safety and Hazards

12.1 Hazards Identification

12.1.1 GHS Classification

1 of 5
View All
Note
Pictograms displayed are for > 99.9% (3753 of 3755) of reports that indicate hazard statements. This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for < 0.1% (2 of 3755) of reports.
Pictogram(s)
Oxidizer
Acute Toxic
Irritant
Environmental Hazard
Signal
Danger
GHS Hazard Statements

H272 (98.6%): May intensify fire; oxidizer [Danger Oxidizing liquids; Oxidizing solids]

H301 (99.9%): Toxic if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

H319 (26.7%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H400 (99.9%): Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]

Precautionary Statement Codes

P210, P220, P264, P264+P265, P270, P273, P280, P301+P316, P305+P351+P338, P321, P330, P337+P317, P370+P378, P391, P405, and P501

(The corresponding statement to each P-code can be found at the GHS Classification page.)

ECHA C&L Notifications Summary

Aggregated GHS information provided per 3755 reports by companies from 41 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 2 of 3755 reports by companies. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

There are 40 notifications provided by 3753 of 3755 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown.

12.1.2 Hazard Classes and Categories

Ox. Liq. 3 (98.6%)

Acute Tox. 3 (99.9%)

Eye Irrit. 2 (26.7%)

Aquatic Acute 1 (99.9%)

Acute toxicity - category 3

Eye irritation - category 2A

Oxidising solid - category 3

Hazardous to the aquatic environment (acute) - category 1

12.1.3 Health Hazards

Ingestion (or inhalation of excessive amounts of dust) causes rapid drop in blood pressure, persistent and throbbing headache, vertigo, palpitations, and visual disturbances; skin becomes flushed and sweaty, later cold and cyanotic; other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes), fainting, methemoglobinemia. Contact with eyes causes irritation. (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Ingestion (or inhalation of large amounts) causes poisoning which may produce cyanosis, marked fall in blood pressure, leading to collapse, coma, and possibly death. Irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

· Toxic by ingestion.

· Inhalation of dust is toxic.

· Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.

· Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes.

· Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.

12.1.4 Fire Hazards

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic oxides of nitrogen may form in fires.

Behavior in Fire: May increase intensity of fire if in contact with combustible material. May melt and flow at elevated temperatures. (USCG, 1999)

U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic oxides of nitrogen may form in fires.

Behavior in Fire: May increase intensity of fire if water evaporates. (USCG, 1999)

U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

· These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire.

· May explode from heat or contamination.

· Some may burn rapidly.

· Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels).

· May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.).

· Containers may explode when heated.

· Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.

Not combustible but enhances combustion of other substances. Many reactions may cause fire or explosion. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire.

12.1.5 Hazards Summary

Emergency treatment: Nitrites; [HSDB] A strong oxidant that reacts with combustible and reducing substances posing fire and explosion hazard; An eye irritant; Can induce methemoglobinemia; [ICSC] A strong oxidizing agent; May explode on prolonged exposure to heat; An eye irritant; Can induce methemoglobinemia; [CAMEO] May cause moderate eye irritation, based on animal studies; [CHEMINFO] See NITRATES and NITRITES.

12.1.6 Fire Potential

Not combustible but enhances combustion of other substances ... /Sodium nitrite/ is a strong oxidant and reacts with combustible and reducing materials causing fire and explosion hazard.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm
MODERATE; A strong oxicizint agent. In contact with organic matter will ignite by friction.
Sax, N.I. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 6th ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984., p. 2442

12.1.7 Skin, Eye, and Respiratory Irritations

... /Sodium nitrite/ is irritating to the eyes.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.2 Safety and Hazard Properties

12.2.1 Explosive Limits and Potential

Explodes when heated to over 1,000 °C ...
Sax, N.I. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 6th ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984., p. 2442
Shock may explode them ... /Nitrites/
Sax, N.I. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 6th ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984., p. 2442
May explode on heating above 530 °C ... /Sodium nitrite/ is a strong oxidant and reacts with combustible and reducing materials causing fire and explosion hazard.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.3 First Aid Measures

Inhalation First Aid
Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.
Skin First Aid
First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.
Eye First Aid
First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.
Ingestion First Aid
Induce vomiting (ONLY IN CONSCIOUS PERSONS!). Give one or two glasses of water to drink. Refer for medical attention .

12.3.1 First Aid

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.

INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.

INGESTION: If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. Generally, the induction of vomiting is NOT recommended outside of a physician's care due to the risk of aspirating the chemical into the victim's lungs. However, if the victim is conscious and not convulsing and if medical help is not readily available, consider the risk of inducing vomiting because of the high toxicity of the chemical ingested. Ipecac syrup or salt water may be used in such an emergency. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)

National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Get medical attention.

INHALATION: Move to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.

INGESTION: Give patient 2 to 4 glasses of water and induce vomiting.

EYES or SKIN: Flush with water, holding lids open occasionally if necessary. (USCG, 1999)

U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

General First Aid:

· Call 911 or emergency medical service.

· Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, take precautions to protect themselves and avoid contamination.

· Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely.

· Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.

· If victim is not breathing:

-- DO NOT perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the victim may have ingestedor inhaled the substance.

-- If equipped and pulse detected, wash face and mouth, then give artificial respiration using a proper respiratory medical device (bag-valve mask, pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other device).

-- If no pulse detected or no respiratory medical device available, provide continuouscompressions. Conduct a pulse check every two minutes or monitor for any signs of spontaneous respirations.

· Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes.

· For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin.

· In case of contact with substance, remove immediately by flushing skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes.

· For severe burns, immediate medical attention is required.

· Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact) to substance may be delayed.

· Keep victim calm and warm.

· Keep victim under observation.

· For further assistance, contact your local Poison Control Center.

· Note: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) should be done by trained professionals.

Specific First Aid:

· Contaminated clothing may be a fire risk when dry.

In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. Please consult the shipping paper and/or the "ERAP" section.

12.4 Fire Fighting

Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

SMALL FIRE: Use water. Do not use dry chemicals or foams. CO2 or Halon® may provide limited control.

LARGE FIRE: Flood fire area with water from a distance. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2024)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2 or water spray.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or regular foam. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Dike runoff from fire control for later disposal. Avoid aiming straight or solid streams directly onto the product.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Do not get water inside containers. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2024)

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

12.4.1 Fire Fighting Procedures

If material on fire or involved in fire: Flood with water. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible.
Association of American Railroads; Bureau of Explosives. Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation. Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, CO. 2005, p. 828

12.4.2 Firefighting Hazards

Evaporation at 20 °C is negligible; a harmful concentration of airborne particles can, however, be reached quickly.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.5 Accidental Release Measures

Public Safety: ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· Keep unauthorized personnel away.

· Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.

· Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.

Spill or Leak: ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

· Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material.

· Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing.

· Stop leak if you can do it without risk.

Small Dry Spill

· With clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

Large Spill

· Dike far ahead of spill for later disposal.

12.5.1 Isolation and Evacuation

Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)

Evacuation: ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

Immediate precautionary measure

· Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

Large Spill

· Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

Fire

· If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

12.5.2 Spillage Disposal

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

12.5.3 Cleanup Methods

Environmental considerations: water spill: Add soda ash (NaCO3). Add calcium hypochlorite (Ca(CIO)2). Adjust pH to neutral (pH=7).
Association of American Railroads; Bureau of Explosives. Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation. Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, CO. 2005, p. 828
Environmental considerations: land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ Cover solids with a plastic sheet to prevent dissolving in rain or fire fighting water.
Association of American Railroads; Bureau of Explosives. Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation. Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, CO. 2005, p. 828
Sweep spilled substance into containers. Carefully collect remainder, then remove to safe place. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. (Extra personal protection: P3 filter respirator for toxic particles).
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.5.4 Disposal Methods

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

12.5.5 Preventive Measures

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.
Personnel protection: Avoid breathing dusts. ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water. Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material.
Association of American Railroads; Bureau of Explosives. Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation. Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, CO. 2005, p. 828
If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers.
Association of American Railroads; Bureau of Explosives. Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation. Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, CO. 2005, p. 828
NO contact with combustible substances ... PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST ... Local exhaust or breathing protection ... Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating ... Specific treatment is necessary in case of poisoning with this substance; the appropriate means with instructions must be available. Depending on the degree of exposure, periodic medical examination is indicated.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm
Approximately 14 million households in the United States use private wells to supply their drinking water (Bureau of the Census 1993). In agricultural areas, nitrogen-based fertilizers are a major source of contamination for shallow groundwater aquifers that provide drinking water. A recent United States Geological Survey study showed that >8,200 wells nationwide were contaminated with nitrate levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standard of 10 parts per million (ppm). ... Because of the risks for potential adverse health effects, persons who use drinking water that contains nitrate levels >10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) should have alternative sources of water or appropriate treatment of existing supplies. Information regarding testing of well water can be obtained from city or county health departments. Other sources of nitrate contamination are organic animal wastes and contamination from septic sewer systems, especially in wells <100 feet deep. During spring melt or drought conditions, both domestic wells and public water systems using surface water can show increased nitrate levels. /Nitrate/
ATSDR; Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. NITRATE/NITRITE TOXICITY. 32p. Course: SS3054. Revision Date: January 2001 Original Date: October 1991 Expiration Date: January 2007.

12.6 Handling and Storage

12.6.1 Nonfire Spill Response

Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk.

SMALL DRY SPILL: With clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

LARGE SPILL: Dike far ahead of spill for later disposal. (ERG, 2024)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Cover with plastic sheet to prevent spreading. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. For solids, prevent dust cloud and avoid inhalation of dust. (ERG, 2024)

12.6.2 Safe Storage

Separated from combustible substances, reducing agents and acids. Dry. Well closed.

12.6.3 Storage Conditions

Separated from combustible and reducing substances, acids. Dry. Well closed.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm
It must be stored and shipped separately from oxidizable substances, ammonium salts, urea, food, and animal feeds.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 6th ed.Vol 1: Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2003 to Present, p. V22 699 (203)

12.7 Exposure Control and Personal Protection

Protective Clothing: ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

· Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE.

· Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.

12.7.1 Emergency Response Planning Guidelines

Emergency Response: ERG 2024, Guide 141 (Sodium nitrite)

Small Fire

· Use water. Do not use dry chemicals or foams. CO2 or Halon® may provide limited control.

Large Fire

· Flood fire area with water from a distance.

· Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat.

· If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

Fire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks

· Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles.

· Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.

· ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.

· For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn.

12.7.2 Inhalation Risk

Evaporation at 20 °C is negligible; a harmful concentration of airborne particles can, however, be reached quickly.

12.7.3 Effects of Short Term Exposure

The substance is irritating to the eyes. The substance may cause effects on the cardiovascular system and blood. This may result in lower blood pressure and the formation of methaemoglobin. Exposure could cause death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.

12.7.4 Allowable Tolerances

Sodium nitrite (not more than 3% of pesticide formulation) is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a stabilizer or inhibitor in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only.
40 CFR 180.920; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov

12.7.5 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Dust mask; goggles or face shield; protective gloves (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Wear impervious protective clothing and goggles. (USCG, 1999)
U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Protective gloves. Safety spectacles ... Extra personal protection: P3 filter respirator for toxic particles
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.7.6 Preventions

Fire Prevention
NO contact with combustible substances.
Exposure Prevention
PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST!
Inhalation Prevention
Use local exhaust or breathing protection.
Skin Prevention
Protective gloves.
Eye Prevention
Wear safety spectacles.
Ingestion Prevention
Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating.

12.8 Stability and Reactivity

12.8.1 Air and Water Reactions

Soluble in water.
Very soluble in water.

12.8.2 Reactive Group

Nitrate and Nitrite Compounds, Inorganic

Nitrate and Nitrite Compounds, Inorganic

Water and Aqueous Solutions

12.8.3 Reactivity Alerts

Strong Oxidizing Agent
12.8.3.1 CSL Reaction Information
1 of 2
CSL No
Reactants/Reagents
Warning Message
Uncontrollable, slow 'foaming' of reaction contents during addition of sodium nitrite
GHS Category
Corrosive,Explosive,Harmful
Functional Group
HeteroAryl Amine
Reaction Scale
M (up to 100g)
Reaction Class
Diazotisation
Reference Source
User-Reported
Modified Date
6/26/18
Create Date
4/24/17
2 of 2
CSL No
Reactants/Reagents
Warning Message
We recently had an unanticipated explosion resulting in the injury of two chemists. The workers were repeating a recently published preparation of 1,5-diamino-1H-tetrazole by the aqueous diazotization of diaminoguanidine hydrochloride using a single equivalent of nitrous acid (Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 4237). After neutralization (pH 8) and evaporation, the desired product is extracted from the inorganic salts with hot ethanol. The ethanol is then evaporated and the resulting solid recrystallized from water. The preparation states that the product is pure after the ethanol extraction. Unfortunately, we have found that the ethanol extracts not only the desired product but also a very sensitive side product, 5-azidotetrazole. This side product is produced by either double diazotization of diaminoguanidine or possibly by diazotization of the desired product through the intermediate 1H-tetrazolo[1,5-d]tetrazole. If this procedure is repeated, it is imperative that the ethanol extract not be taken to dryness
GHS Category
Explosive
Additional Information
Unanticipated explosion due to formation of the side product 5-azidotetrazole
Reference Source
C&EN
Modified Date
6/29/18
Create Date
2/23/18

12.8.4 Reactivity Profile

SODIUM NITRITE is an oxidizing agent. Mixtures with phosphorus, tin(II) chloride or other reducing agents may react explosively [Bretherick 1979 p. 108-109]. If contaminated by ammonium compounds, spontaneous decomposition can occur and resulting heat may ignite surrounding combustible material. Reacts with acids to form toxic nitrogen dioxide gas. Mixing with liquid ammonia forms dipotassium nitrite, which is very reactive and easily explosive [Mellor 2, Supp. 3:1566 1963]. Melting together wilh an ammonium salt leads to a violent explosion [Von Schwartz 1918 p. 299]. A mixture with potassium cyanide may cause an explosion. Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of all combustible material. If large quantities are involved in fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result. When a little ammonium sulfate is added to fused potassium nitrite, a vigorous reaction occurs attended by flame [Mellor 2:702. 1946-47].
SODIUM NITRITE SOLUTION is an oxidizing agent. Reacts with reducing agents to generate heat and products that may be gaseous (causing pressurization inside closed containers). The products may themselves be capable of further reactions (such as combustion). Dissolution in water reduces but does not nullify the oxidizing power of nitrites. Reacts with acids to form toxic nitrogen dioxide gas. Mixtures with phosphorus, tin(II) chloride or other reducing agents may react explosively [Bretherick 1979 p. 108-109]. When a mixture with sodium thiosulfate was heated to dryness, a violent explosion occurred [Mellor 10:501 1946-47]. May react with organic amines to give carcinogens (nitrosamines).

12.8.5 Hazardous Reactivities and Incompatibilities

... /They/ can react vigorously with reducing materials. /Nitrites/
Sax, N.I. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 6th ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1984., p. 2442
Accidental mixing of /sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite and sodium sulfide/ caused a violent explosion.
Bretherick, L. Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., 1990, p. 1337
Interaction, without addition of acid, produces tetrazolyguanidine ('tetrazene'), a primary explosive of equal sensitivity to mercury(II) azide, but more readily initiated.
Bretherick, L. Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., 1990, p. 1334
Heating a mixture of an ammonium salt with a nitrite salt causes a violent explosion on melting, owing to formation and decomposition of ammonium nitrite. Salts of other nitrogenous bases behave similarly. Mixtures of ammonium chloride and sodium nitrite are used as commercial explosives. Accidental contact of traces of ammonium nitrate with sodium nitrite residues caused wooden decking on a truck to ignite.
Bretherick, L. Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., 1990, p. 1335
For more Hazardous Reactivities and Incompatibilities (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (23 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

12.9 Transport Information

12.9.1 DOT Emergency Guidelines

/GUIDE 140: OXIDIZERS/ Fire or Explosion: These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire. Some may decompose explosively when heated or involved in a fire. May explode from heat or contamination. Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels). May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.
U.S. Department of Transportation. 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook. Washington, D.C. 2012
/GUIDE 140: OXIDIZERS/ Health: Inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
U.S. Department of Transportation. 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook. Washington, D.C. 2012
/GUIDE 140: OXIDIZERS/ Public Safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number on Shipping Paper first. If Shipping Paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover. As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Keep out of low areas. Ventilate closed spaces before entering.
U.S. Department of Transportation. 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook. Washington, D.C. 2012
/GUIDE 140: OXIDIZERS/ Protective Clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer. It may provide little or no thermal protection. Structural firefighters' protective clothing will only provide limited protection.
U.S. Department of Transportation. 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook. Washington, D.C. 2012
For more DOT Emergency Guidelines (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

12.9.2 Shipping Name / Number DOT/UN/NA/IMO

UN 1500; Sodium nitrite
IMO 5.1; Sodium nitrite

12.9.3 Standard Transportation Number

49 187 47; Sodium nitrite

12.9.4 Shipment Methods and Regulations

No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./
49 CFR 171.2; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of February 15, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations are published by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board pursuant to IATA Resolutions 618 and 619 and constitute a manual of industry carrier regulations to be followed by all IATA Member airlines when transporting hazardous materials.
International Air Transport Association. Dangerous Goods Regulations. 47th Edition. Montreal, Quebec Canada. 2006., p. 255
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be used when shipping any substance or article.
International Maritime Organization. International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. London, UK. 2004., p. 71

12.9.5 DOT Label

Oxidizer Poison
Poison

12.9.6 EC Classification

Symbol: O, T, N; R: 8-25-50; S: (1/2)-45-61

12.9.7 UN Classification

UN Hazard Class: 5.1; UN Subsidiary Risks: 6.1; UN Pack Group: III

12.10 Regulatory Information

The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals
Chemical: Nitrous acid, sodium salt
REACH Registered Substance
New Zealand EPA Inventory of Chemical Status
Nitrous acid, sodium salt: HSNO Approval: HSR001286 Approved with controls

12.10.1 Federal Drinking Water Standards

EPA 1,000 ug/L /Nitrite/
USEPA/Office of Water; Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC). Summary of State and Federal Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines (11/93) To Present

12.10.2 Federal Drinking Water Guidelines

EPA 1,000 ug/L /Nitrite/
USEPA/Office of Water; Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC). Summary of State and Federal Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines (11/93) To Present

12.10.3 State Drinking Water Guidelines

(ME) MAINE 1000 ug/L /Nitrite/
USEPA/Office of Water; Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC). Summary of State and Federal Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines (11/93) To Present

12.10.4 Clean Water Act Requirements

Sodium nitrite is designated as a hazardous substance under section 311(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and further regulated by the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977 and 1978. These regulations apply to discharges of this substance. This designation includes any isomers and hydrates, as well as any solutions and mixtures containing this substance.
40 CFR 116.4; //ecfr69//

12.10.5 CERCLA Reportable Quantities

Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 100 lb or 45.4 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).
40 CFR 302.4; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov

12.10.6 FIFRA Requirements

Sodium nitrite (not more than 3% of pesticide formulation) is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a stabilizer or inhibitor in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only.
40 CFR 180.920; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
As the federal pesticide law FIFRA directs, EPA is conducting a comprehensive review of older pesticides to consider their health and environmental effects and make decisions about their future use. Under this pesticide reregistration program, EPA examines health and safety data for pesticide active ingredients initially registered before November 1, 1984, and determines whether they are eligible for reregistration. In addition, all pesticides must meet the new safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Pesticides for which EPA had not issued Registration Standards prior to the effective date of FIFRA '88 were divided into three lists based upon their potential for human exposure and other factors, with List B containing pesticides of greater concern and List D pesticides of less concern. Sodium nitrite is found on List D. Case No: 4052; Pesticide type: rodenticide, antimicrobial; Case Status: RED Approved 9/91; OPP has made a decision that some/all uses of the pesticide are eligible for reregistration, as reflected in a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document.; Active ingredient (AI): sodium nitrite; AI Status: The active ingredient is no longer contained in any registered products ... "cancelled.".
United States Environmental Protection Agency/ Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances; Status of Pesticides in Registration, Reregistration, and Special Review. (1998) EPA 738-R-98-002, p. 318

12.10.7 FDA Requirements

The food additive sodium nitrite may be safely used in or on specified foods in accordance with the following prescribed conditions: (a) It is used or intended for use as follows: (1) As a color fixative in smoked cured tunafish products so that the level of sodium nitrite does not exceed 10 parts per million (0.001 percent) in the finished product. (2) As a preservative and color fixative, with or without sodium nitrate, in smoked, cured sablefish, smoked, cured salmon, and smoked, cured shad so that the level of sodium nitrite does not exceed 200 parts per million and the level of sodium nitrate does not exceed 500 parts per million in the finished product. (3) As a preservative and color fixative, with sodium nitrate, in meat-curing preparations for the home curing of meat and meat products (including poultry and wild game), with directions for use which limit the amount of sodium nitrite to not more than 200 parts per million in the finished meat product, and the amount of sodium nitrate to not more than 500 parts per million in the finished meat product.
21 CFR 172.175; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
The food additive sodium nitrite may be safely used in combination with salt (NaCl) to aid in inhibiting the outgrowth and toxin formation from Clostridium botulinum type E in the commercial processing of smoked chub in accordance with the following prescribed conditions: (a) All fish in smoking establishments shall be clean and wholesome and shall be expeditiously processed, packed, and stored under adequate sanitary conditions in accordance with good manufacturing practice. (b) The brining procedure is controlled in such a manner that the water phase portion of the edible portion of the finished smoked product has a salt (NaCl) content of not less than 3.5 percent, as measured in the loin muscle, and the sodium nitrite content of the edible portion of the finished smoked product is not less than 100 parts per million and not greater than 200 parts per million, as measured in the loin muscle. (c) Smoked chub shall be heated by a controlled heat process which provides a monitoring system positioned in as many strategic locations in the smokehouse as necessary to assure a continuous temperature throughout each fish of at least 160 °F for a minimum of 30 minutes. (d) The finished product shall be cooled to a temperature of 50 °F or below within 3 hours after smoking and further cooled to a temperature of 38 °F or below within 12 hours after smoking. A temperature of 38 °F or below shall be maintained during all subsequent storage and distribution. All shipping containers, retail packages, and shipping records shall indicate with appropriate notice the perishable nature of the product and specify that the product shall be held under refrigeration (38 °F or below) until consumed.
21 CFR 172.177; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
Sodium nitrite is an indirect food additive for use only as a component of adhesives.
21 CFR 175.105; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite are subject to prior sanctions issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use as color fixatives and preservative agents, with or without sodium or potassium nitrate, in the curing of red meat and poultry products.
21 CFR 181.34; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov
Sodium nitrite is a food additive permitted in feed and drinking water of animals.
21 CFR 573.700; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of August 30, 2006: https://www.ecfr.gov

12.11 Other Safety Information

Chemical Assessment
IMAP assessments - Nitrous acid, sodium salt: Human health tier II assessment

12.11.1 Toxic Combustion Products

Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

12.11.2 History and Incidents

Some 115 people in northwest China suffered food poisoning -- with 4 in critical condition -- after eating mutton-and-bun soup, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Monday. The victims, customers at a canteen in Qianxian, a county in Shaanxi province, were rushed to a hospital on Sunday and the shop was shut down, Xinhua said. A preliminary investigation showed that the soup, a local delicacy, contained too much nitrite, which can be used as a food preservative, the news agency said. It was not immediately clear why nitrite was used in the soup or whether it was added intentionally. The canteen owner has been detained by police, Xinhua said. Some food poisoning cases in China have been blamed on cooks who put poisons or toxic cleaning materials in food, mistaking them for salt or other ingredients.
International Society for Infectious Diseases. A ProMED-mail post (April 19, 2004): Soure: Yahoo News, Asia/China/ AP (edited). Available from, as of January 18, 2007: https://www.promedmail.org
On September 25, 1944, 11 elderly men were admitted to a New Your hospital exhibiting blueness over large parts of their bodies. All were derelicts in relatively poor health. At first, the condition was attributed to cyanosis from carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the symptoms weren't quite right to be gas poisoning. The results of a blood analysis indicated the presence of methemoglobin. When it was determined that all had eaten oatmeal at the same cafeteria, an investigation to identify the source of the poisoning was begun. Carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out because the 11 men had not been in the cafeteria at the same time. Interviews with the cook indicated that he had added a "handful" of salt from an open gallon can standing on the stove. This can had been filled from a larger can; beside this larger can was an identical one that the proprietor identified as saltpetre (sodium nitrate). The cook acknowledged that it was possible that he had absent-mindedly refilled the salt can on the stove from the one that contained saltpetre. The recipe for the oatmeal was duplicated and an analysis back in the laboratory indicated that the "saltpetre" was actually sodium nitrite and that the levels in the oatmeal were considerably higher than the portions that were permitted in finished meat treated with sodium nitrite. However, the estimated dose was about 2 ½ grains of sodium nitrite, whereas the toxic dose was estimated to be 3 grains. In addition, about 125 servings of oatmeal had been prepared, but only 11 men became ill. Further investigation revealed that one of 17 salt shakers had also been filled with sodium nitrite. It was suspected, but could not be confirmed, that the 11 persons who became ill added "salt" to their oatmeal from the contaminated shaker. /Abstracted from article/
Roueche B; Eleven Blue Men. The Medical Detectives. p. 1-10. Times Books, NY (1980) as abstracted for a course taught at Illinois State. Course handout Available from, as of January 18, 2007: https://lilt.ilstu.edu/pefranc/ROUECHE.00.html
An accidental food poisoning outbreak occurred resulting in the death of 14 of the 22 affected persons. Chemical analysis of food materials revealed the presence of sodium nitrite and potassium arsenate. Analysis of urine, gastric contents, liver and kidney, collected at the time of autopsy, confirmed the presence of these chemical substances in high concentrations. Epidemiological data indicated that the food poisoning occurred due to the accidental use of sodium nitrite and potassium arsenate instead of table salt in the preparation of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) soup.
Gautami S et al; J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 33 (2): 131-3 (1995)

12.11.3 Special Reports

European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition).[Available from, as of October 26, 2006: http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/]
NAS/NRC; Nitrates, An Environmental Assessment 723 pp. (1978)
IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Vol 94: Ingested Nitrate and Nitrite and Cyanobacterial Peptide Toxins (2010)[IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V94 (2010)]

13 Toxicity

13.1 Toxicological Information

13.1.1 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)
A2450: Keszler A, Piknova B, Schechter AN, Hogg N: The reaction between nitrite and oxyhemoglobin: a mechanistic study. J Biol Chem. 2008 Apr 11;283(15):9615-22. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M705630200. Epub 2008 Jan 17. PMID:18203719
L1613: Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia

13.1.2 Evidence for Carcinogenicity

There is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of nitrite in food. Nitrite in food is associated with an increased incidence of stomach cancer. ...There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of nitrite in combination with amines or amides. There is limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of nitrite per se. Overall evaluation: Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).
IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V94: p. 323 (2010)

13.1.3 Carcinogen Classification

1 of 2
NTP Technical Report
TR-495: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Sodium Nitrite (CASRN 7632-00-0) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Drinking Water Studies) (2001 )
Peer Review Date
Conclusion for Male Rat
No Evidence No Evidence
Conclusion for Female Rat
No Evidence No Evidence
Conclusion for Male Mice
No Evidence No Evidence
Conclusion for Female Mice
Equivocal Evidence Equivocal Evidence
Summary

Under the conditions of this 2-year drinking water study, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in male or female F344/N rats exposed to 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in male B6C3F1 mice exposed to 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in female B6C3F1 mice based on the positive trend in the incidences of squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma (combined) of the forestomach.

Exposure to sodium nitrite in drinking water resulted in increased incidences of epithelial hyperplasia in theforestomach of male and female rats and in the glandular stomach of male mice.

Decreased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia occurred in male and female rats.

2 of 2
Carcinogen Classification
Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). (L135)

13.1.4 Health Effects

Nitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Nitrites may cause pregnancy complications and developmental effects. They may also be carcinogenic. (L1137)
L1137: ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2007). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/nitrate/nitrate.html

13.1.5 Exposure Routes

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
Oral (L1137) ; inhalation (L1137)
L1137: ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2007). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/nitrate/nitrate.html

13.1.6 Symptoms

Inhalation Exposure
Blue lips, fingernails and skin. Confusion. Convulsions. Dizziness. Headache. Nausea. Unconsciousness.
Eye Exposure
Redness. Pain.
Ingestion Exposure
Increased heart rate. See Inhalation.
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)
L1137: ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2007). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/nitrate/nitrate.html

13.1.7 Adverse Effects

Methemoglobinemia - The presence of increased methemoglobin in the blood; the compound is classified as secondary toxic effect

13.1.8 Acute Effects

13.1.9 Toxicity Data

LC50 (rat) = 5.5 mg/m3/4h
LD50: 158 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Mouse) (T13) LD50: 65 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (T13) LD50: 85 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (T13) LC50: 5.5 mg/L over 4 hours (Inhalation, Rat) (T13)
T13: Lewis RJ Sr. (ed) (2004). Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc.

13.1.10 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)
L1613: Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia

13.1.11 Interactions

The effects of acidified sodium nitrite, a releaser of nitric oxide, combined with human superoxide dismutase were investigated in a 6 hr model of myocardial ischemia (MI) with repertusion in open-chest, anesthetized cats. Acidified sodium nitrite + human superoxide dismutase together exert significant protection on the myocardium subjected to ischemia and repertusion injury. Sodium nitrite may act synergisticaly with human superoxide dismutase to prolong the action of nitric oxide scavenging free radicals that inactivate nitric oxide.
Johnson G et al; Am Heart J l119 (3): 530-7 (1990)
Chronic sodium nitrite (SN) treatment potentiated spontaneous and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced carcinogenesis. Mice injected with SN alone showed a higher incidence of leukemia and lung cancer than in controls. Combined treatment with DMH and SN induced most of benign and malignant tumors (hepatic hemangioendothelioma, hepatocarcinoma, renal adenoma, etc.). The difference in the numbers of DMH- and SN-induced tumor bearers was not significant until a concentration of 500 mg/L was reached (64.7%). The level of multiple tumor incidence increased when SN 50 and 500 mg/L was used. Unlike DMH alone, cumulative incidence of DMH-specific tumors and leukemia after combined treatment was higher. An evaluation of cumulative incidence and relative risk established an indirect but positive correlation between SN dose, on the one hand, and spontaneous and induced carcinogenesis, on the other. The strongest carcinogenic effect was reported when DMH was used in combination with SN 500 mg/L. /The authors concluded that their/ data confirmed the carcinogenic hazard of chronic exposure to SN which increased when in combination with that to a specific carcinogenic substance.
Il'nitski AP et al; Vopr Onkol 50 (6): 683-8 (2004)
Combined effects of sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ) on liver, colon and Zymbal's gland carcinogenesis were assessed using a rat two-stage carcinogenesis model, with a focus on involvement of oxidative stress. Male 6-week-old F344 rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine and 4 subcutaneous injections of 40 mg/kg of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine for initiation. Then, they were administered 0 or 300 ppm IQ in the diet or 0, 0.1 or 0.2% NaNO2 in their drinking water for 27 weeks. The treatment with NaNO2+IQ significantly enhanced colon and Zymbal's gland carcinogenesis and tended to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis. The incidence of lung tumors in the IQ-treated groups was significantly increased as compared with the initiation alone group. In a second experiment, male rats were given IQ or NaNO2 under the same conditions as before for 1 week, and at sacrifice, their liver and colon tissue or mucosa were collected for analysis of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), acrolein-modified protein and the bromodeoxyuridine-labeling index (BrdU-LI) (in the colon). In the colon, 8-OHdG, acrolein-modified protein levels and BrdU-LI were significantly increased by the combined treatment. These results indicate that the treatment with NaNO2 enhances IQ-induced colon and Zymbal's gland carcinogenesis in rats and that oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation may partly be involved, especially in the colon. In addition, this experiment showed that IQ can act as a potent lung carcinogen in rats.
Kitamura Y et al; Int J Cancer 118 (10): 2399-404 (2006)
... Short-term effects of combined treatment with anti-oxidants, sodium ascorbate (NaAsA) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) on forestomach cell proliferation were examined in F344 male rats. Groups of 5 animals aged 6 weeks were treated for 4 weeks with 0.8% catechol, 0.8% hydroquinone, 1% tert-butyl-hydroquinone (TBHQ), 2% gallic acid or 2% pyrogallor alone or in combination with 0.3% NaNO2 in the drinking water and/or 1% NaAsA in the diet. The thicknesses of forestomach mucosa in rats treated with anti-oxidants and NaNO2 in combination were greater than those with antioxidant alone and additional NaAsA treatment further enhanced the thickening of mucosa. It was noteworthy that values for mucosae of animals treated with NaNO2 and NaAsA without anti-oxidant were similar to those for anti-oxidants.
Yoshida Y et al; Int J Cancer 56 (1): 124-8 (1994)
For more Interactions (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (40 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.12 Antidote and Emergency Treatment

Maintain an open airway and assist ventilation if necessary. Administer supplemental oxygen. Treat hypotension with supine positioning, intravenous crystalloid fluids, and a low dose -pressor if needed. Monitor vital signs and ECG for 4 to 6 hours. Symptomatic methemoglobinemia may be treated with methylene blue. ... Administer activated charcoal. Gastric emptying is not necessary for small ingestions if activated charcoal can be given promptly . Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are not effective. Severe methemoglobinemia in infants not responsive to methylene blue therapy may require exchange transfusion. /Nitrates and Nitrites/
Olson, K.R. (Ed.); Poisoning & Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. New York, N.Y. 2004., p. 279
Decontamination: Remove victim from exposure and administer supplemental oxygen if available. Remove contaminated clothing and wash with copious soap and water. Irrigate exposed eyes with water or saline. /Nitrates and NItrites/
Olson, K.R. (Ed.); Poisoning & Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. New York, N.Y. 2004., p. 280
Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat as necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 d of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool. Administer activated charcoal ... . /Nitrates, nitrites, and related compounds/
Currance, P.L. Clements, B., Bronstein, A.C. (Eds).; Emergency Care For Hazardous Materials Exposure. 3Rd edition, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, MO 2005, p. 286-7
Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious or is in severe respiratory distress. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary. Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. If unresponsive to these measures, vasopressors may be helpful. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Administer 1% solution methylene blue if patient is symptomatic with severe hypoxia, cyanosis, and cardiac compromise not responding to oxygen. ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Nitrates, nitrites, and related compounds/
Currance, P.L. Clements, B., Bronstein, A.C. (Eds).; Emergency Care For Hazardous Materials Exposure. 3Rd edition, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, MO 2005, p. 287
For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.13 Medical Surveillance

Clinical Evaluation: History. Evaluation of a patient with suspected nitrate/nitrite exposure includes a complete medical history and physical examination. Clues to potential exposure are often obtained by reviewing the following items with the patient or family: location of home (urban, suburban, or rural); drinking water source and supply (if well water: depth, location, type of well construction, and frequency of microbiologic and nitrate testing); surrounding activities (agricultural or industrial) and proximity to drinking-water source; type of sewer system (municipal or septic) and proximity to drinking water source; recent flooding; occupations, avocations, and hobbies of family members; nutritional status (for infants: type of formula, feeding regimen, and source of dilution water); family history, including recent use of medications by infant and mother; and history of recent gastroenteritis with vomiting or diarrhea. /Nitrates and Nitrites/
ATSDR; Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. NITRATE/NITRITE TOXICITY. p 12. Course: SS3054. Revision Date: January 2001 Original Date: October 1991 Expiration Date: January 2007.
Physical examination should include special attention to the color of the skin and mucous membranes. If there is a history of gastroenteritis (especially in infants), evaluate the patient for the possible presence of dehydration (poor skin turgor, sunken fontanelle, dry mucous membranes). All cyanotic patients should be assessed for possible cardiac and lung disease (cardiac murmurs, gallops, arrhythmias; rales, rhonchi, wheezes, dullness or hyperresonance in the chest). A central chocolate-brown or slate-gray cyanosis that does not respond to administration of 100% oxygen is indicative of methemoglobinemia. Cyanosis due to cardiorespiratory compromise most often improves with administration of 100% oxygen. In young infants, look for labored breathing, respiratory exhaustion, hypotension, below-average weight gain, and failure to meet developmental markers. Gastroenteritis can increase the rates of production and absorption of nitrites in young infants and aggravate methemoglobinemia. /Nitrates and Nitrites/
ATSDR; Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. NITRATE/NITRITE TOXICITY. p 12. Course: SS3054. Revision Date: January 2001 Original Date: October 1991 Expiration Date: January 2007.
Signs and Symptoms Signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia can be directly correlated with the percentage of total hemoglobin in the oxidized form... The lips and mucous membranes of patients with nitrate/nitrite toxicity usually have more of a brownish than a bluish cast. Dyspnea, especially on exertion, is common. Varying degrees of central nervous system depression might be present. The cardiac and pulmonary examinations are usually normal, but systolic flow murmurs might be detected. Cardiac arrhythmias and hypotension can occur in patients with severe poisoning, although death from methemoglobinemia alone is uncommon, except in infants. /Nitrates and Nitrites/
ATSDR; Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. NITRATE/NITRITE TOXICITY. p 13. Course: SS3054. Revision Date: January 2001 Original Date: October 1991 Expiration Date: January 2007.
Laboratory Evaluation Most commonly, a drop of the patient's blood is placed on a piece of filter paper next to a drop of blood from person who does not have methemoglobinemia; when dry, the blood with methemoglobin will turn a deep chocolate-brown or slate-gray color. A tube of methemoglobin containing blood will not turn red when shaken in air or when oxygen is bubbled through it, whereas blood that is dark because of normal deoxyhemoglobin will turn red. Screening Tests: Examination of blood color. Determination of the calculated versus measured arterial saturation gap. Hemoglobin and hematocrit. Serum-free hemoglobin (for hemolysis detection). Serum haptoglobin (for hemolysis detection). Heinz bodies on peripheral blood smear. Urinalysis. Specialized Tests: Determination of methemoglobin level. Tests for causes of congenital methemoglobinemia. Hemoglobin electrophoresis. Activity of NADH-dependent methemoglobin reductase. Tests for Causes of Failure of Methylene Blue Therapy (see Treatment and Management section): Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD). Activity of NADPH-dependent methemoglobin reductase. Sulfhemoglobin blood level (not readily available for clinical use). /Nitrates and Nitrites/
ATSDR; Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. NITRATE/NITRITE TOXICITY. p 13-14. Course: SS3054. Revision Date: January 2001 Original Date: October 1991 Expiration Date: January 2007.
For more Medical Surveillance (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.14 Human Toxicity Excerpts

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Human volunteers given sodium nitrite intravenously produced a maximum methemoglobin level of 7% after a dose of 2.7 mg NO2-/kg and 30% after a dose of 8 mg/kg ... The first symptoms of oral nitrite poisoning develop within 15 to 45 minutes.[IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm]
/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Symptoms of nitrite poisoning and MetHb formation after ingestion ranged from 0.4 to > 200 mg/kg bw, expressed as nitrite ion ... MetHb formation in different cases varied from 7.7 up to 79% ... /It was deduced that/ cyanosis occurred at MetHb concentration above 10%, and other symptoms at > 20% ... /Nitrite/[WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 30, 2006: http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm]
/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ The effect of sodium nitrite on subpopulations (young and old) of isolated neonatal and adult red blood cells was studied. MetHb formation increased with NaNO2 concentration in all subpopulations. Red blood cells treated with NaNO2 were less fragile. Changes in protein composition occurred after NaNO2 treatment. The membrane-bound Hb increased with increasing NaNO2 concentration. When compared with adult red blood cells, neonatal red blood cells seemed more susceptible to MetHb formation, to decrease in fragility, and to oxidative denaturation of spectrins and band-3-proteins. Increased susceptibility of neonatal cells to oxidative injury and MetHb formation may contribute to their shorter life-span when compared to adult cells. This susceptibility may also be related to lower MetHb reductase activity in neonatal cells.[WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 27, 2006: http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm]
/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Signs and symptoms of nitrite poisoning include intense cyanosis, nausea, vertigo, vomiting, collapse, spasms of abdominal pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, coma, convulsions and death. Injection and inflammation of gastric and intestinal mucosa are described at autopsy. /Inorganic nitrite salts/[Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984., p. II-315]
For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (30 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.15 Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Single dose of 30 mg/kg of sodium nitrite iv caused methemoglobinemia in dogs. /From table/
Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 2416
/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Testing of sodium nitrite on rabbit corneas by application of 0.08 molar soln after removal of corneal epithelium, or by injection into stroma, has caused no local injury.
Grant, W.M. Toxicology of the Eye. 3rd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 1986., p. 840
/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Sodium nitrite /is/ not irritating /to/ rabbit skin ...
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 26, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Sodium nitrite /is/ moderately irritating /to/ rabbit eyes ... Irrigation of the treated eye 30 to 60 seconds after application ... had little effect on the overall effects, which were primarily of conjunctival irritation.
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 26, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (60 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.16 Non-Human Toxicity Values

LD50 Rabbit oral 186 mg/kg
Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. 3266
LD50 Mouse ip 158 mg/kg
Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. 3266
LD50 Mouse oral 175 mg/kg
Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. 3266
LD50 Rat iv 65 mg/kg
Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. 3266
For more Non-Human Toxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.1.17 Ongoing Test Status

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Agent Search Results page, which tabulates all of the "Standard Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies", "Developmental Studies", and "Genetic Toxicity Studies" performed with this chemical. Clicking on the "Testing Status" link will take the user to the status (i.e., in review, in progress, in preparation, on test, completed, etc.) and results of all the studies that the NTP has done on this chemical. [http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=7632-00-0]

13.1.18 National Toxicology Program Studies

Sodium nitrite administered via drinking water, was tested for its effects on fertility & reproduction in Swiss CD-1 mice according to the continuous breeding protocol. Based on results of dose-finding studies, 0.06, 0.12, & 0.24% weight/volume sodium nitrite concns were chosen to investigate effects on fertility & reproduction. Male & female mice were continuously exposed for a 7 day precohabitation & a 98 day cohabitation period (Task 2). Sodium nitrite treatment had no effect on fertility or any of the reproductive parameters. The water consumption in the 0.24% group was consistently lower but this had no effect on F0 body weights. Since the response was negative in Task 2, the cross-over mating trial (Task 3) to determine the sex affected by chemical treatment was not conducted. The F1 pups from control & 0.24% groups were weaned for second generation studies. Live male & female pup weights were significantly lower on postnatal days 7, 14, & 21 in the 0.24% group. At sexual maturity, fertility was not affected in the F1 mice nor were body weights decreased in either sex. At necropsy, absolute cauda epididymis weight was lower in the treated group by 9%. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that sodium nitrite is not a reproductive toxicant in Swiss CD-1 mice at the levels tested.
Department of Health & Human Services/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Toxicology Program; Reproductive Toxicity of Sodium Nitrite (CAS No. 7632-00-0) in CD-1 Swiss Mice, NTP Study No. RACB88071 (December 1990) Available from, as of August 8, 2002: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=0847F35A-0850-D1E7-B02ED4DDD150F990
14-WEEK STUDY IN RATS Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were exposed to 0, 375, 750, 1,500, 3,000, or 5,000 ppm sodium nitrite (equivalent to average daily doses of approximately 30, 55, 115, 200, or 310 mg sodium nitrite/kg body weight to males and 40, 80, 130, 225, or 345 mg/kg to females) in drinking water for 14 weeks. Clinical pathology study groups of 15 male and 15 female rats were exposed to the same concentrations for 70 or 71 days. One female exposed to 3,000 ppm died before the end of the study. Body weights of males exposed to 3,000 or 5,000 ppm and females exposed to 5,000 ppm were significantly less than those of the controls. Water consumption by 5,000 ppm males and 3,000 and 5,000 ppm females was less than that by the controls at weeks 2 and 14. Clinical findings related to sodium nitrite exposure included brown discoloration in the eyes and cyanosis of the mouth, tongue, ears, and feet of males exposed to 3,000 or 5,000 ppm and of females exposed to 1,500 ppm or greater. Reticulocyte counts were increased in males and females exposed to 3,000 or 5,000 ppm. The erythron was decreased on day 19 but increased by week 14 in males and females exposed to 5,000 ppm. Methemoglobin concentrations were elevated in almost all exposed groups throughout the 14 week study; a no-observed-adverse-effect level was not achieved. The relative kidney and spleen weights of males and females exposed to 3,000 or 5,000 ppm were significantly greater than those of the controls. Sperm motility in 1,500 and 5,000 ppm males was significantly decreased. Increased erythropoietic activity in the bone marrow of exposed males and females was observed. The incidences of squamous cell hyperplasia of the forestomach in 5,000 ppm males and females were significantly increased. 14-WEEK STUDY IN MICE Groups of 10 male and 10 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 375, 750, 1,500, 3,000, or 5,000 ppm sodium nitrite (equivalent to average daily doses of approximately 90, 190, 345, 750, or 990 mg/kg to males and 120, 240, 445, 840, or 1,230 mg/kg to females) in drinking water for 14 weeks. Body weights of males exposed to 5,000 ppm were significantly less than those of the controls. Water consumption by males exposed to 1,500 ppm or greater was slightly less than that by the controls at week 13. Relative spleen weights of 3,000 and 5,000 ppm males and absolute and relative heart, kidney, liver, and spleen weights of females exposed to 3,000 or 5,000 ppm were greater than those of the control groups. Sperm motility was decreased in 5,000 ppm males, and the estrous cycles of 1,500 and 5,000 ppm females were significantly longer than in the controls. There were increased incidences of squamous cell hyperplasia of the forestomach in 5,000 ppm males and females, extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen in 3,000 and 5,000 ppm males and 1,500 ppm or greater females, and degeneration of the testis in 3,000 and 5,000 ppm males. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats were exposed to 0, 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm sodium nitrite (equivalent to average daily doses of approximately 35, 70, or 130 mg/kg to males and 40, 80, or 150 mg/kg to females) in drinking water for 2 years. For toxicokinetic studies of plasma nitrite and blood methemoglobin, 10 male and 10 female special study rats were exposed to the same concentrations for 12 months. Survival of exposed groups was similar to that of the controls. Mean body weights of males and females exposed to 3,000 ppm were less than those of the controls throughout the study. Water consumption by males and females exposed to 3,000 ppm was less than that by the controls throughout the study, and that by the other exposed groups was generally less after week 14. The incidences of hyperplasia of the forestomach epithelium in males and females exposed to 3,000 ppm were significantly greater than those in the control groups. The incidence of fibroadenoma of the mam mary gland was significantly increased in females exposed to 1,500 ppm, and the incidences of multiple fibroadenoma were increased in 750 ppm and 1,500 ppm females; however, these neoplasms occur with a high background incidence, and no increase was seen in the 3,000 ppm group. The incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia were significantly decreased in males and females exposed to 1,500 or 3,000 ppm. 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE Groups of 50 male and 50 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm sodium nitrite (equivalent to average daily doses of approximately 60, 120, or 220 mg/kg to males and 45, 90, or 165 mg/kg to females) in drinking water for 2 years. Survival of exposed groups was similar to that of the controls; mean body weights of 3,000 ppm females were less than those of the controls throughout the study. Exposed groups generally consumed less water than the control groups. The incidences of squamous cell papilloma or carci noma (combined) in the forestomach of female mice occurred with a positive trend. The incidence of hyperplasia of the glandular stomach epithelium was significantly greater in 3,000 ppm males than in the controls. ... CONCLUSIONS Under the conditions of this 2-year drinking water study, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in male or female F344/N rats exposed to 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in male B6C3F1 mice exposed to 750, 1,500, or 3,000 ppm. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in female B6C3F1 mice based on the positive trend in the incidences of squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma (combined) of the forestomach. Exposure to sodium nitrite in drinking water resulted in increased incidences of epithelial hyperplasia in theforestomach of male and female rats and in the glandular stomach of male mice. Decreased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia occurred in male and female rats.
Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies of Sodium Nitrite in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice p.8 Technical Report Series No. 495 (2001) NIH Publication No. 01-3954 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

13.1.19 Populations at Special Risk

Acute nitrate toxicity is almost always seen in infants rather than adults when it results from ingestion of well waters & vegetables high in nitrates. ... /it was/ deduced that infants were prone to upset stomachs & achlorhydria. As result, stomach pH increased in alkalinity allowing nitrate-reducing organisms to enter & to reduce nitrates to nitrites. A gastric pH above 4 supports nitrate-reducing organisms. ... immature enzyme systems may also be of importance. ... fetal hemoglobin (hemoglobin F) is oxidized by nitrite to methemoglobin at rate twice as rapid as adult hemoglobin (hemoglobin A). Furthermore, enzymatic capacity of erythrocytes of newborn infants to reduce methemoglobin to hemoglobin appears less than that of adults. Difference is probably due to developmental deficiency in activity of DPNH-methemoglobin reductase (diphosphopyridine nucleotide). As opposed to adults, several clinical, physiologic & metabolic factors predispose infants to development of methemoglobinemia & acute nitrate poisoning. /Nitrite/
National Research Council. Drinking Water & Health Volume 1. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1977., p. 420
Neonates are at special risk for high nitrate and nitrite levels as their enzyme system for regeneration of hemoglobin is not fully developed ... Most clinical case data refers to neonates developing methemoglobinemia after drinking water or water-based formulations with high nitrate or nitrite content ... Cases of methemoglobinemia have also been reported due to feeding babies vegetable preparations where nitrate has been converted to nitrite through bacterial action. /Nitrate and nitrite poisoning/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from, as of October 24, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm
The lowest acute oral lethal dose of nitrite reported for man varied from 27 to 255 mg/kg, in which the lowest figures applied for children and elderly people. Nitrite is also more toxic to young infants (3 mo) than adults giving rise to relatively higher methemoglobin levels in the blood ... Individuals with stomach lesions or disorders ... /and/ persons on cimetidine and other antacid medication present special risk groups in which a correlation between nitrate or nitrite intake and incidence of gastric cancer cannot be excluded. /Nitrate and nitrite/
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 27, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Aside from infants under 3 months of age, several other categories of individuals with altered physiological status or with hereditary or acquired disease may also be predisposed to the development of nitrite- or nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia. These include pregnant women ... individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency ... adults with reduced gastric acidity (including those being treated for peptic ulcer or individuals with chronic gastritis or pernicious anemia), a rare group with a hereditary lack of NADH or methemoglobin reductase activity in their red blood cells ... and probably the elderly ... Individuals with hereditary structural abnormalities in hemoglobin, referred to as hemoglobin Ms, are probably also at increased risk from dietary nitrate or nitrite. /Nitrate and nitrite/
WHO; WHO Food Additives Series 35 (844): Nitrite. Available from, as of October 30, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v35je13.htm
For more Populations at Special Risk (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.2 Ecological Information

13.2.1 Ecotoxicity Values

LC50; Species: Cyprinus carpio (common carp, wt 2-78 g); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: 35 nmol/L at pH 6.9-7.4 for 24 hr /total/
Williams EM, Eddy FB; Aquat.Toxicol. 13 (1): 29-42 (1988) Available from, as of September 13, 2006
LC50; Species: Cyprinus carpio (common carp, size 56 mm fork length); Conditions: freshwater; flow-through; Concentration: 15600 ug/L (95% confidence limit: 13300 to 17900 ug/L) for 10 days /total/
Solbe JFD et al; J Fish Biol 27 (Suppl. A): 197-207 (1985) Available from, as of September 13, 2006
LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: 8300 ug/L for 96 hr /total/
Ewell WS et al; Environ Toxicol Chem 5 (9): 831-840 (1986) Available from, as of September 13, 2006
LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: 43600 ug/L for 24 hr /total/
Bringmann G, Kuhn R; Z.Wasser-Abwasser-Forsch 10 (5): 161-166(ENG TRANSL) (OECDG Data File) (GER) (ENG ABS) (1977) Available from, as of September 13, 2006
For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM NITRITE (121 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

13.2.2 Ecotoxicity Excerpts

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) appears to be the most sensitive fish species to nitrite toxicity, with a 96 hr LC50 ranging from 0.56 to 1.78 mg NO2-/L for low chloride water and 11.5 to 17.4 mg NO2-/L for high chloride water, at pH between 7.5 and 8.6 in hard water. /Nitrite/
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 26, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Salmo gairdneri /exposed/ to 0.1 mg NO2-/L for ... /7wk/ in freshwater caused no lethality, growth reduction, gill histological changes or hematological dyscrasions ... Although 0.05 mg NO2-/L causes significant incr in methemoglobin levels, the change was slight and not of biological significance. /Nitrite (NO2) /
European Chemicals Bureau; IUCLID Dataset, Sodium nitrite (7632-00-0) (2000 CD-ROM edition). Available from, as of October 26, 2006: https://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
/AQUATIC SPECIES/ ... /Sodium nitrite/ is toxic to aquatic organisms.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from, as of October 23, 2006: https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm

13.2.3 ICSC Environmental Data

The substance is toxic to aquatic organisms.

13.2.4 Natural Pollution Sources

Sodium nitite is present in brines(1).
(1) Porkorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: January 27, 2006.

13.2.5 Environmental Fate

The major environmental releases of inorganic sources of nitrates are due to the use of fertilizers. Most nitrogenous materials in natural waters tend to be converted to nitrate, so all sources of combined nitrogen, particularly organic nitrogen and ammonia, should be considered as potential nitrate sources. Primary sources of organic nitrates include human sewage and livestock manure, especially from feedlots. Because it does not volatilize, nitrate/nitrite is likely to remain in water until consumed by plants or other organisms. Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child's blood. Symptoms include blueness of the skin. /Nitrate; nitrite/
US EPA; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Technical Factsheet on: NITRATE/NITRITE. Available at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/t-ioc/nitrates.html as of Sept 24, 2007.

13.2.6 Probable Routes of Human Exposure

... /Sodium nitrite/ can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
IPCS, CEC; International Chemical Safety Card on Sodium nitrite. (October 2000). Available from https://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1120.htm as of October 23, 2006.
Oral intake of nitrate and nitrite in food and drinking water is the major route of entry /Nitrate and nitrite poisoning/
IPCS; Poisons Information Monograph G016: Nitrates and nitrites. (September 1996). Available from: https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm as of October 24, 2006.

14 Associated Disorders and Diseases

15 Literature

15.1 Consolidated References

15.2 NLM Curated PubMed Citations

15.3 Springer Nature References

15.4 Thieme References

15.5 Wiley References

15.6 Chemical Co-Occurrences in Literature

15.7 Chemical-Gene Co-Occurrences in Literature

15.8 Chemical-Disease Co-Occurrences in Literature

16 Patents

16.1 Depositor-Supplied Patent Identifiers

16.2 WIPO PATENTSCOPE

16.3 FDA Orange Book Patents

16.4 Chemical Co-Occurrences in Patents

16.5 Chemical-Disease Co-Occurrences in Patents

16.6 Chemical-Gene Co-Occurrences in Patents

17 Interactions and Pathways

17.1 Chemical-Target Interactions

18 Biological Test Results

18.1 BioAssay Results

19 Classification

19.1 MeSH Tree

19.2 ChEBI Ontology

19.3 KEGG: ATC

19.4 WHO ATC Classification System

19.5 ChemIDplus

19.6 CAMEO Chemicals

19.7 ChEMBL Target Tree

19.8 UN GHS Classification

19.9 EPA CPDat Classification

19.10 NORMAN Suspect List Exchange Classification

19.11 EPA DSSTox Classification

19.12 Consumer Product Information Database Classification

19.13 EPA TSCA and CDR Classification

19.14 EPA Substance Registry Services Tree

19.15 MolGenie Organic Chemistry Ontology

20 Information Sources

  1. Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS)
  2. CAMEO Chemicals
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    https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/help/reference/terms_and_conditions.htm?d_f=false
    CAMEO Chemical Reactivity Classification
    https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/browse/react
  3. ChemIDplus
    ChemIDplus Chemical Information Classification
    https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/source/ChemIDplus
  4. EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
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    https://www.epa.gov/web-policies-and-procedures/epa-disclaimers#copyright
    Nitrous acid, sodium salt (1:1)
    https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting
  5. EPA Chemicals under the TSCA
    Nitrous acid, sodium salt (1:1)
    https://www.epa.gov/chemicals-under-tsca
    EPA TSCA Classification
    https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory
  6. EPA DSSTox
    CompTox Chemicals Dashboard Chemical Lists
    https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/chemical-lists/
  7. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
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    https://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/legal-notice
  8. FDA Global Substance Registration System (GSRS)
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    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  9. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  10. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
  11. New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
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    https://www.epa.govt.nz/about-this-site/general-copyright-statement/
  12. NJDOH RTK Hazardous Substance List
  13. EU Food Improvement Agents
  14. Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
  15. Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
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    https://haz-map.com/About
  16. ChEBI
  17. Open Targets
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    https://platform-docs.opentargets.org/licence
  18. Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
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  19. ChEMBL
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    http://www.ebi.ac.uk/Information/termsofuse.html
  20. ClinicalTrials.gov
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    https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/about-site/terms-conditions#Use
  21. Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD)
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  22. Drug Gene Interaction database (DGIdb)
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  23. Therapeutic Target Database (TTD)
  24. Consumer Product Information Database (CPID)
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    https://www.whatsinproducts.com/contents/view/1/6
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    https://www.whatsinproducts.com/
  25. DailyMed
  26. Drugs@FDA
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    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  27. WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines
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    https://www.who.int/about/policies/publishing/copyright
  28. EPA Chemical and Products Database (CPDat)
  29. EU Clinical Trials Register
  30. FDA Orange Book
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    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  31. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
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    https://www.who.int/about/policies/publishing/copyright
  32. NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
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    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    NORMAN Suspect List Exchange Classification
    https://www.norman-network.com/nds/SLE/
  33. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS), Safe Work Australia
  34. NITE-CMC
    Sodium nitrite - FY2011 (Revised classification)
    https://www.chem-info.nite.go.jp/chem/english/ghs/11-mhlw-2027e.html
    Sodium nitrite - FY2006 (New/original classication)
    https://www.chem-info.nite.go.jp/chem/english/ghs/06-imcg-1099e.html
  35. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
    LICENSE
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    https://eur-lex.europa.eu/content/legal-notice/legal-notice.html
  36. FDA Substances Added to Food
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    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  37. Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
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    http://www.hmdb.ca/citing
  38. Japan Chemical Substance Dictionary (Nikkaji)
  39. KEGG
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    Academic users may freely use the KEGG website. Non-academic use of KEGG generally requires a commercial license
    https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/legal.html
    Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification
    http://www.genome.jp/kegg-bin/get_htext?br08303.keg
  40. National Drug Code (NDC) Directory
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    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  41. NLM RxNorm Terminology
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    https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm/docs/termsofservice.html
  42. NTP Technical Reports
  43. PharmGKB
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    https://www.pharmgkb.org/page/policies
  44. Pistoia Alliance Chemical Safety Library
    SODIUM NITRITE + 2-AMINO-5-BROMO-4-METHYL-3-NITROPYRIDINE
    https://safescience.cas.org/
  45. SpectraBase
  46. Springer Nature
  47. SpringerMaterials
  48. Thieme Chemistry
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  49. WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification
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  50. Wikidata
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  54. PubChem
  55. GHS Classification (UNECE)
  56. EPA Substance Registry Services
  57. MolGenie
    MolGenie Organic Chemistry Ontology
    https://github.com/MolGenie/ontology/
  58. PATENTSCOPE (WIPO)
  59. NCBI
CONTENTS