Sodium thioglycolate

Synonyms

Mercaptoacetic acid, sodium salt; Erhavit D; Mercaptoacetic acid monosodium salt; Mollescal SF; Sodium 2-mercatoethanoate; Sodium 2-sulfanylacetate; Sodium mercaptoacetate; Sodium thioglycollate; Thioglycolate sodium; Thioglycollic acid, sodium salt; Acetic acid, 2-mercapto-, sodium salt (1:1); Acetic acid, mercapto-, monosodium salt; [ChemIDplus] 2-Mercaptoacetic acid sodium salt (1:1); [Merck Index]

Category

Thioglycolates

Description

Hygroscopic solid with a mild characteristic odor; Discolored by air and iron; [Merck Index] White hygroscopic powder with a stench; [Acros Organics MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used in cosmetology (cold-waving of hair and as a depilatory), bacteriology to make thioglycolate media, and as an analytical reagent; [Merck Index]

Comments

An irritant; Can be absorbed through skin; Effects to the skin at administration site, no systemic toxicity, and no evidence of developmental toxicity or teratogenicity observed in dermal study of rabbits at doses up to 65 mg/kg/day; A dermal developmental toxicity study of rats produced no NOAEL for maternal toxicity, a developmental NOAEL of 100 mg/kg/day (decreased fetal body weights per litter), and no evidence of teratogenicity; [NTP] Causes cutaneous sensitization in acute dermal studies of rabbits and rats; Causes somnolence and convulsions in oral lethal-dose studies of mice; [RTECS] A skin and strong eye irritant; Harmful by ingestion; Toxic by skin absorption; [Acros Organics MSDS] See "Thioglycolic acid." See "Ammonium thioglycolate."

Biomedical References

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Dressing Hair