Thimerosal was developed and registered under the trade name Merthiolate in 1929 by the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, and marketed as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It has been used as an additive to prevent bacterial contamination in vaccines and other compounds such as immune globulin preparations, skin test antigens, anti-venins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks.

The chemical formula for thimerosal is C₉H₉HgNaO₂S. In the body it is metabolized to ethylmercury (C₂H₅Hg⁺) and thiosalicylate. Thimerosal causes susceptible bacteria to autolyze (break down their own cells with self-produced enzymes) via an unknown mechanism.

Material Safety Data Sheet

See Full Material Safety Data Sheet

Synonyms: ethyl-2-mercaptobenzoato(2-)-O,S--mercurate sodium, mercury((o-carboxyphenyl)thio)ethyl sodium salt, mercurothiolate, merzonin sodium, SET, sodium ethylmercuric thiosalicylate, sodium merthiolate, thimerosalate, thiomersalate, merfamin, merthiolate, merthiolate sodium, merzonin, nosemack, merseptyl, 2-mercaptobenzoic acid mercury complex, elcide 75, thiomersal, ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid sodium salt, various other systematic and non-systematic names.

Usage

Drug, anti-infective, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, preservative.

Physical data

Appearance: white or slightly yellow powder

Molecular formula: C₉H₉HgNaO₂S
Molar Mass: 404.81 g/mol
CAS No: 54-64-8
EC No: 200-210-4
EC index number: 080-004-00-7
HS Code: 2930 90 70
Storage class (VCI): 6.1 B (Non-flammable toxic materials)
Packing-category: G
WGK: 3 (highly polluting substance)
R Phrase: R 26/27/28-33-50/53
S Phrase: S 13-28.1-36-45-60-61
pH value: ∼6.7 (10 g/l, H₂O, 20 °C)
Melting point: 232 - 233 °C (decomposition)
Bulk density: 500 kg/m³
Solubility in water: 1000 g/l (20 °C)

Stability

Stable. May degrade in sunlight. Incompatible with strong acids, strong bases, strong oxidizing agents, iodine, heavy metal salts.

Toxicology

Poison. Experimental neoplastigen and teratogen. Harmful by inhalation and ingestion. May cause reproductive damage. May be harmful through skin contact. Typical OEL 0.05 mg/m3.

Chemical Hazard Symbol: T+ = Very toxic Criteria: Inhalation, swallowing, or absorption through the skin in very small amounts can cause considerable damage to health, and may sometimes be lethal. In the event of exposure serious evidence of severe, possibly irreversible damage to health by single, repeated, or prolonged absorption. MSDS Hazard Symbol T+

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GPs get new five-in-one jab for children
From Evening Standard (London), 9/27/04 by REBECCA SMITH

DOCTORS' surgeries will start receiving the new five-in-one jab from today as part of the Government's shake-up of the childhood vaccination programme.

Ministers announced last month that the existing four-in-one vaccination would be replaced with a combined diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio jab.

The new vaccine is free of the mercury-based preservative thiomersal-which some have linked to autism. However, the Department of Health said this was not the driving factor behind the changes.

A DoH spokeswoman said today: " Immunisation is the best way to protect children from serious disease and the routine childhood programme has been extremely effective in achieving this." When the changes were first announced some campaigners voiced concerns that the new jab would "overload" the immune system.

But Dr David Salisbury, head of immunisations at the DoH, dismissed these fears, pointing out that children already receive five vaccinations in one sitting.

"We will actually be giving children far fewer ingredients, not more," he said.

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