Methylene blue

Synonyms

3,7-Bis(dimethylamino)phenazathionium chloride; 3,7-Bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium chloride; Aizen Methylene Blue BH; Aizen Methylene Blue FZ; Basic Blue 9; Bleu de methylene; C.I. 52015; C.I. Basic Blue 9; CI 52015; CI Basic Blue 9; Calcozine Blue ZF; Ceruleum methylenum; Chlorure de methylthioninium [INN-French]; Chromosmon; Cloruro de metiltioninio [INN-Spanish]; D And C Blue Number 1; D and C Blue No. 1; Ext D and C Blue No. 1; External Blue 1; Hidaco Methylene Blue Salt Free; Leather Pure Blue HB; M-B Tabs; Methylenblau [German]; Methylene Blue; Methylene Blue (medicinal); Methylene Blue 2B; Methylene Blue 2BF; Methylene Blue 2BN; Methylene Blue 2BP; Methylene Blue A; Methylene Blue B; Methylene Blue BB; Methylene Blue BB (zinc free); Methylene Blue BBA; Methylene Blue BD; Methylene Blue BP; Methylene Blue BPC; Methylene Blue BX; Methylene Blue BZ; Methylene Blue D; Methylene Blue FZ; Methylene Blue G; Methylene Blue GZ; Methylene Blue HGG; Methylene Blue I (medicinal); Methylene Blue IAD; Methylene Blue JFA; Methylene Blue N; Methylene Blue NF (medicinal); Methylene Blue NZ; Methylene Blue Polychrome; Methylene Blue SG; Methylene Blue SP; Methylene Blue USP (medicinal); Methylene Blue USP XII (medicinal); Methylene Blue ZF; Methylene Blue ZX; Methylene Blue Zinc Free; Methylene Blue chloride; Methylene Blue chloride (biological stain); Methylenium ceruleum; Methylenum coeruleum; Methylthionine chloride; Methylthionini chloridum; Methylthioninii chloridum [INN-Latin]; Methylthioninium chloride; Methylthionium chloride; Metiltioninio cloruro [DCIT]; Mitsui Methylene Blue; Modr Methylenova [Czech]; Modr Rozpoustedlova 8 [Czech]; Modr Zasadita 9 [Czech]; Phenothiazin-5-ium, 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)-, chloride; Sandocryl Blue BRL; Schultz No. 1038; Solvent Blue 8; Swiss Blue; Tetramethylene Blue; Tetramethylthionine chloride; Urolene Blue; X 138; Yamamoto Methylene Blue B; Yamamoto Methylene Blue ZF; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Azine Dyes

Description

Dark green crystals or powder with a bronze-like luster; Solutions in water or alcohol are deep blue; [ChemIDplus]

Sources/Uses

Used as a stain in bacteriology, a chemical reagent, an antimethemoglobinemic drug, a polymerization inhibitor, and a temporary hair colorant; also used as a paper, textile, and leather dye; [HSDB] Azine dye; [Kirk-Othmer]

Comments

Workers handling methylene blue are at risk for photoirritant contact dermatitis (PICD). [Marks, p. 201-3] Listed in table of "Methemoglobinemia-inducing agents: industrial, environmental, and pharmaceutical"; Antidote for symptomatic methemoglobinemia; At high doses, methylene blue causes methemoglobinemia, and it is not indicated in cases of G6PD deficiency. [Sullivan, p. 729, 731]

Biomedical References

1.3E-07 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

VP from HSDB;

MetHgb is secondary toxic effect

PICD (photoirritant contact dermatitis)

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, photoirritant

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)