Security of dimethylmercury

Security of 

Dimethylmercury is extremely toxic and dangerous to handle. Absorption of doses as low as 0.1 mL can cause severe mercury poisoning. The risk is increased due to the high vapor pressure of this compound. [2] Medicinal chemist Derek Lowe called it "deadly and terrifying" in a 2013 article.

Penetration testing has shown that several disposable latex or polyvinyl chloride gloves (typically approximately 0.1 mm thick) commonly used in most laboratory and clinical settings have a high and maximum dimethylmercury permeation rate within 15 seconds. [12] OSHA recommends using high-strength laminated gloves for handling dimethylmercury, wearing a pair of hard-wearing gloves over the laminated gloves, and also recommends using a face shield and working in a fume hood.

Dimethylmercury is metabolized to methylmercury after a few days. Methylmercury readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, probably due to complex formation with cysteine. [13] It is not quickly eliminated from organisms and therefore has a tendency to bioaccumulate. Symptoms of intoxication may be delayed for months, leading to the eventual discovery of a diagnosis, but only when it is too late or almost too late when effective treatment options are successful. [13] Methylmercury poisoning is also known as Minamata disease.
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As early as 1865, two workers in Frankland's laboratory died after developing progressive neurological symptoms after accidental exposure to the compound. [3]

Karen Wetterhahn, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth College, died in 1997, ten months after she spilled only a few drops of dimethylmercury on her latex gloves. [2][14] This incident led to improved safety procedures for the use of chemical protective clothing and fume hoods. [15]

Christoph Bulwin, a 40-year-old German database administrator for IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie, and others, was reportedly attacked with a syringe umbrella on July 15, 2011 in Hannover, Germany. Bulwin, who died a year later, claimed to have confiscated the syringe, which was later found to contain dimethylmercury;[16] leading to his death from mercury poisoning. [17][18][19] However, police investigations revealed that Bullwin's car contained typical mercury-thallium compounds, a syringe contained typical mercury-thallium compounds, and a thermometer at his workplace also contained mercury and thallium. Ante-mortem and post-mortem analyzes of blood, urine and tissue were inconclusive, casting doubt on the account of the attack. Additionally, the lack of an identified assailant or motive, as well as the presence of different mercury compounds in Bullwin's car, led police to conclude that he was likely responsible for the poisoning himself, halting the initial investigation. "

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