Thimerosal

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

Description

Light cream-colored crystalline powder with a slight odor; [CAMEO]

Sources/Uses

Use is diminishing as a preservative in eye drops, vaccines, and cleaners for contact lenses; [Kanerva, p. 1839] 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. 812]

Comments

Allergic contact dermatitis reported in a medical assistant (ophthalmology) and in veterinarians; [Kanerva, p. 1839] Thimerosal is metabolized to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. [Rom, p. 992] See "Mercury, aryl compounds" and the linked diseases.

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

0.1 mg/m3, as Hg

0.1 mg/m3, as Hg

Reference Link #2

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Using Disinfectants or Biocides