Fungicide mercury acetate

Phenyl mercury acetate Fungicide, unclassified herbicide... 

Prior to the 1990s phenyhnercuric acetate was the primary bactericide and fungicide in latex and waterborne paints. Because of the increasing concerns of mercury toxicity and the potential for high consumer and occupational exposures to mercury when present in paints, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) induced U.S. manufacturers of PMA and other mercury compounds to withdraw their registrations for use of these substances as biocides in paints (see AIercury). Mercury compounds are used only for very limited, specific purposes, such as the use of phenyhnercuric mXx.2LX.e[55-68-5] as a bactericide in cosmetic eye preparations (see Cosmetics). 

Nangniot and Martens [3] determined triphenyltin acetate fungicide in vegetable matter by a method based on the hanging drop mercury electrode. 

The commercial production of mercury fungicides from organolead compounds is based on patents by Kharasch 184,185). The mercury compounds are used in the disinfection of seeds and grains. Typical compounds are ethylmercuric chloride, ethylmercuric sulfate, ethyl-mercuric phosphate, phenylmercuric acetate, and compounds derived from substituted phenols and ureas. The manufacture of these compounds was reviewed by Whelen in 1957 310>. The alkylation reaction is a general reaction, and a number of additional patents has been issued on methods similar to Whelen s. A representative equation is ... 

Infants exposed to diapers that had been treated with a phenylmercury fungicide exhibited higher urinary levels of mercury than unexposed infants (Gotelli et al. 1985). In rats, dermal absorption of phenyl-mercuric acetate from the vaginal tract was 75% of the dose within 8 hours after administration (Laug and Kunze 1949). 

Other applications. Phenylmercuric acetate has been used in aqueous preparations such as inks, adhesives, and caulking compounds, as a catalyst for the manufacture of certain polyurethanes, and as a fungicide in seed dressings and interior and exterior paints (IARC 1993 Reese 1990). Dimethylmercury is used to prepare mercury nuclear magnetic resonance standards (Blayney et al. 1997) and mass spectrometer mercury calibration standards (Toribara et al. 1997). 

Discontinued applications. The use of phenylmercuric acetate as a fungicide in interior latex paints was banned in 1990 (Reese 1990), and its use in exterior paint was banned in 1991 (Hefflin et al. 1993). Both of these bans were prompted because of releases of mercury vapors as the paint degraded. Alkyl mercurial compounds were used until the mid-1970s as a treatment to disinfect grain seeds. Most other agricultural applications of mercury compounds in bactericides and fungicides have been banned due to the toxicity of mercury. Mercuric nitrate was used in the production of felt hats to hydrolyze rabbit fur. The use of mercury as a wood preservative has ceased due to the use of polyurethane (Drake 1981). 

Cadmium calcium copper zinc chromate complex Dithiopyr Mercury chloride (ic) Phenylmercuritriethanolammonium lactate fungicide, vegetables Anisomycin Copper-ammonium acetate ... 

Organic mercury compounds are equally soluble in lipids, and the rate of breakdown varies according to their derivatization. Due to their good solubility in lipids, they are easily absorbed and mainly accumulated in the central nervous system which is the main target for toxic effects. The compounds mersalyl, phenyl-mercuric acetate, mercuric acetate, and thiomersal, which are all used in the medical world, are of little environmental importance. In contrast, dimethyl mercury and diethyl mercury, which are used as fungicides and seed dressings, are most important. 

NUODEX PMA 18 is a solubilized form of plienylmercuric acetate containing 18% mercury as metal (30% phenylmercuric acetate) designed for manufacturing use only as an in-can preservative of water-based paints and coatings and as a fungicide in water-based paints for exterior application only. 

---