Carmine

Synonyms

B Rose liquid; Carmine (Coccus cacti L.); Cochineal (Coccus cacti L.); Cochineal extract lake; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Anthraquinone Dyes

Description

Red crystals in methanol; bright red powder; deep red color in water; [HSDB]

Sources/Uses

Used in inks, dyes, food coloring, photography, paints, microbiological stains, and chemical reagents; [HSDB] Carmine is used as a microscopic stain of chromatin. [Ullmann]

Comments

Anthraquinones are toxic by ingestion and may cause vomiting, diarrhea, kidney and liver damage, and coma; Deaths have been reported after children ingested Rhamnus berries; [HSDB] Occupational asthma confirmed in workers in dye manufacturing plant; [Malo] Cochineal is the dried bodies of the female insect coccus cacti. Carminic acid is the active coloring material, and carmine is the aluminum lake of carminic acid. [HSDB] See "Carminic acid" and "Cochineal."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

9.71E-27 mm Hg

Reference Link #2

Yes

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asthma, occupational

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Photographic Processing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)