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Thiols (or mercaptans, an older term) are a group of chemical compounds with structural similarity to alcohols, e.g., ethanethiol (C2H5SH) resembles ethanol (C2H5OH). Some thiols are used as warning gases. Their strong and repulsive odor can warn users of an explosive gas that is leaking into the air. [Hawley] See Benzenethiol, n-butyl mercaptan, methanethiol, ethanethiol, perchloromethyl mercaptan, and at least 12 other thiols in this database. The thiols with higher vapor pressures can be acutely toxic in spill accidents causing respiratory irritation, coma, and death. The thiols can, like hydrogen sulfide, produce CNS injury and respiratory paralysis. [ACGIH] See Methyl mercaptan, Benzenethiol (Phenyl mercaptan), Perchloromethyl mercaptan, 2-Methyl-2-heptanethiol, and tert-Octyl mercaptan all classified as TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard). [ERG 2008]. In addition to CNS injury, these mercaptans can also cause acute pulmonary edema. |
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