Agent Name |
Thimerosal |
CAS Number |
54-64-8 |
Formula |
C9-H9-Hg-O2-S.Na |
Major Category |
Other Chemicals |
Synonyms |
Collyrium Eye Wash; ((o-Carboxyphenyl)thio)ethylmercury sodium salt; Aeroaid spray; Elcide 73; Elcide 75; Elicide; Estivin; Ethyl (sodium o-mercaptobenzoato)mercury; Ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoato-S)mercury sodium salt; Ethylmercurithiosalicyclic acid, sodium salt; Ethylmercurithiosalicylate sodium; Ethylmercurithiosalicylate sodium salt; Ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid sodium salt; Ethylmerkurithiosalicilan sodny [Czech]; Mercurate(1-), ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoate(2-)-O,S)-, sodium; salt; Mercurate(1-), ethyl(o-mercaptobenzoato(2-))-, sodium; Mercurothiolate; Mercurothiolatum; Mercury, ((o-carboxyphenyl)thio)ethyl-, sodium salt; Mercury, ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoate-S)-, sodium salt; Mercury, ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoato-S)-, sodium salt; Merfamin; Merphol; Merseptyl (VAN); Merthiolate; Merthiolate salt; Merthiolate sodium; Mertorgan; Merzonin; Merzonin sodium; Nosemack; SET; Sodium 2-(ethylmercurithio)benzoate; Sodium ethylmercuric thiosalicylate; Sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate; Sodium merthiolate; Sodium o-(ethylmercurithio)benzoate; Thimerosal; Thimerosalate; Thimerosalum; Thimerosol; Thimersalate; Thiomersal; Thiomersalat; Thiomersalate; Thiomersalum [INN-Latin]; Tiomersal [INN-Spanish]; Tiomersale [DCIT]; Vitaseptol Loesung; o-(Ethylmercurithio)benzoic acid sodium salt; [ChemIDplus] UN2025 |
Category |
Preservatives/Disinfectants |
Description |
Light cream-colored crystalline powder with a slight odor; [CAMEO] |
Sources/Uses |
Used as a preservative in eye drops, vaccines, and cleaners for contact lenses; [Kanerva, p. 1173] Used in vaccines until 1999 at a concentration of 25 ug per 0.5 ml dose of several common vaccines; [Rom, p. 992] Has been removed from US-licensed vaccines for children under 7 years--either thimerosal-free or contain only trace amounts (<0.5 ug Hg/dose) with the exception of some inactivated influenza vaccines. [Goldfrank, p. 838] |
Comments |
Allergic contact dermatitis reported in a medical assistant (ophthalmology) and in veterinarians; [Kanerva, p. 1173] Thimerosal is metabolized to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. [Rom, p. 992] |
Reference Link |
Occupational contact dermatitis of the eyelids, without ocular involvement, from thimerosal in contact lens fluid |
Exposure Assessment |
BEI |
Total inorganic mercury in urine = 35 ug/g creatinine sampling time prior to shift; Total inorganic mercury in blood = 15 ug/L sampling time end of shift at end of workweek |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
TLV (ACGIH) |
0.1 mg/m3, as Hg |
PEL (OSHA) | Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.1 mg/m3, as Hg |
Reference Link |
Occupational dermatitis in veterinarians |
Adverse Effects |
Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: THIMEROSAL
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