Thiomersal
Organomercury antiseptic and antifungal agent / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thiomersal (INN), or thimerosal (USAN, JAN), also sold under the name merthiolate[4] is an organomercury compound. It is a well-established antiseptic and antifungal agent.[5]
Names | |
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IUPAC name
Ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoato-(2-)-O,S) mercurate(1-) sodium | |
Other names
Mercury((o-carboxyphenyl)thio)ethyl sodium salt, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate | |
Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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8169555 | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider |
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DrugBank | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.192 |
EC Number |
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1677155 | |
KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
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RTECS number |
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
C9H9HgNaO2S | |
Molar mass | 404.81 g/mol |
Appearance | White or slightly yellow powder |
Density | 2.508 g/cm3[1] |
Melting point | 232 to 233 °C (450 to 451 °F; 505 to 506 K) (decomposition) |
1000 g/L (20 °C) | |
Pharmacology | |
D08AK06 (WHO) | |
Hazards | |
GHS labelling: | |
Danger | |
H300, H310, H330, H373, H410 | |
P260, P273, P280, P301, P302, P304, P310, P330, P340, P352[2] | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Flash point | 250 °C (482 °F; 523 K) |
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose) |
75 mg/kg (oral, rat)[3] |
Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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The pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company named it Merthiolate. It has been used as a preservative in vaccines, immunoglobulin preparations, skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks.[6] In spite of the scientific consensus that fears about its safety are unsubstantiated,[7][8][9][10] its use as a vaccine preservative has been called into question by anti-vaccination groups. A 1999 statement issued in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report announced that "the Public Health Service (PHS), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agree that thimerosal-containing vaccines should be removed as soon as possible" and that these groups would collaborate to replace them while manufacturers committed "to eliminate or reduce as expeditiously as possible the mercury content of their vaccines."[11][12][13] It remains in use as a preservative for annual flu vaccines.[14]