Mercury Containing Chemicals

We have heard a lot in the news about Mercury and Thimerosal. These potential harmful ingredients can be found in MANY commercially available items items per the Environmental Protection Agency. This is a list of information as of May 2002 from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Inventory of Mercury Sources in a Health Care Environment

PLEASE visit the Environmental Protection Agency for the full listing

MERCURY CONTAINING CHEMICALS

• Mercury (II) oxide
• Mercury chloride
• Mercury (II) chloride
• Mercury (II) sulfate
• Mercury nitrate (for corrosion of copper alloys)
• Mercurochrome
• Mercury iodide
• Mercurial diuretic
• Fixatives (many)
• "Metexchange" reagent
• "Precision" reagent
• Preservatives (e.g., Thimerosal, Phenylmercuric acetate, Phenylmercuric nitrate)
• Stains (e.g., Carbol-Fuchin, Gram iodine, trichrome blue, mercury chloride, Carbol Gentian violet, Gomori's,
• Sulfuric acid (commercial grade, Hg as impurity)
• Thimerosal (used in Haemophilus, hepatitis, rabies, tetanus, influenza, diptheria, and pertussis vaccines)
• Zenker's solution and other histological fixatives

OVER-THE-COUNTER PHARMACEUTICALS CONTAINING MERCURY

• Thimerosal
• Phenylmercuric acetate used as preservatives
• Phenylmercuric nitrate
• Opththalmic products and contact lens solutions
• Nasal sprays (as preservative)
• Topical anti-microbials and disinfectants (e.g., Merthiolate,
• tincture of Merthiolate)
• Diuretics (mersalyl, salts, mercumatilin, mercuramide,
• mercurophylline, mercaptomerin, merethoxylline)
• Eye cosmetics
• Hemorrhoidal ointments (use discontinued in 1995)
• Homeopathic remedies (listed as `mercurius' on label)
• Merbromin/water solution (used in plastic/reconstructive surgery as
• disinfectant and marker)
• Mercuric chloride peritoneal lavage in cancer surgery (uncommon in
• US)
• Skin bleaching creams (OTC use discontinued in early 1970's, but some
• prescription formulations still available)
• Teething powder (discontinued in 1950's)
• Human and veterinary vaccines (now being reviewed by FDA)

GENERAL USE PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY

• Ajax Powder
• Alconox soap
• Boraxo Pads
• Comet Cleaner
• Derma Scrub
• Dove soap
• Ivory dishwashing liquid
• Joy dishwashing liquid
• Kodak Fixer
• Kodak Developer
• Lysol Direct
• Murphy's Oil Soap
• Soft Cide Soap (Baxter)
• Soft Scrub
• Sparkleen detergent
• Sunlight dishwashing detergent
• Plus, Many greeting cards, gift gadgets, etc have batteries
• containing mercury

Note: This information is being provided by theEnvironmental Protection Agency. We do not warrant the accuracy of this information. Please check with you local agency for any questions. 

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