ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a detailed discussion on the occurrence and production, uses, chemical and physical properties, exposure and exposure limits, toxicokinetics, and effects of potassium in humans. The crustal abundance of potassium is 2.59". Important ore minerals of potassium are polyhalite, sylvite (KCl), and carnallite. Potassium salts are also recovered from brines in Utah and California. Potassium metal is used in organic syntheses. KCl is used in fertilizer and plant nutrients, pharmaceuticals, photography, and spectroscopy and as a salt substitute, laboratory reagent, buffer, and food additive. The sulfate is additionally used in gypsum cements and in alum and glass manufacture. The effects of potassium in humans include information on acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, biochemistry, specific organs and systems, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity.
