Ethylmercuric chloride

Synonyms

Ceresan; Chloroethylmercury; Cryptodine; EMC; Emcon D; Ethylmercury chloride; Ethylmerkurichlorid [Czech]; Ganozan; Granosan; Granozan; Mercury, chloroethyl-; [ChemIDplus] Criptodin; Cryptodin; Ethyl mercury chloride; Ethylmercury (II) chloride; Mercuriethyl chloride; Monoethylmercury chloride; [CAMEO] UN2025

Category

Metals, Organic Compounds

Description

White silvery solid; Insoluble in water; [Merck Index] Silver crystalline solid; Insoluble in water; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used as a seed treatment fungicide; [Merck Index] Used as a polymerization catalyst; [NTP] No active pesticide product registrations in the US; [NPIRS]

Comments

Corrosive to skin; Chronic exposure may cause brain injury; Can be absorbed through skin; [Merck Index] Causes other degenerative changes to brain, other liver changes, weight loss, and changes in renal tubules in repeated-dose oral studies of rats; [RTECS] An irritant; Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; May have cumulative adverse effects; Mutagenic and reproductive effects observed in experimental animals; [Alfa Aesar MSDS] See "Methylmercuric chloride." See "Mercury, alkyl compounds" and linked occupational diseases.

Biomedical References

Yes

0.01 mg/m3, as Hg

0.03 mg/m3, as Hg

0.01 mg/m3, as Hg, Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.04 mg/m3, as Hg

2 mg/m3, as Hg

6.44 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 689 mg/m3/4hr

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Mercury compound, solid, n.o.s."

Other CNS neurotoxin

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, acute toxic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)