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Name: Deferoxamine Mesylate
Common Uses: Known primarily as a chelating agent for treating acute iron poisoning and conditions marked by chronic iron overload, including thalassemia.
Form: Off-white to tan crystalline powder, often found in sterile vials for injection.
CAS Number: 138-14-7
Synonyms: Desferrioxamine mesylate, DFO mesylate.
Notable Attributes: Water-solubility and a faint, characteristic odor help identify this compound in pharmaceutical labs and hospital pharmacies.
Physical Hazards: Not recognized as highly flammable or explosive; still, improper storage or handling may generate dust irritation.
Health Hazards: May trigger allergic reactions, skin sensitivity, or respiratory issues in those often exposed to powdered pharmaceuticals. Prolonged contact sometimes brings headaches, dizziness or gastrointestinal discomfort.
Environmental Hazards: Limited studies suggest low persistence in surface waters, but rapid dilution does not eliminate local aquatic effects, especially with wastewater from hospital settings.
Main Risk: Accidental inhalation or skin contact by unprotected handlers remains the greatest everyday concern in medical and research environments.
Active Ingredient: Deferoxamine Mesylate (often >95% purity in clinical use).
Impurities: Trace amounts of by-products from synthesis, usually cited in quality reports, but rarely specified in commercial MSDS documents.
Additives: Occasionally blended with stabilizers or buffers, but single-ingredient forms are most common.
Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air, keep them calm, and monitor for coughing or breathing difficulty.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed areas thoroughly with soap and water, and avoid rubbing eyes or mouth until cleaned.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with flowing, clean water for at least 15 minutes, continuously holding eyelids apart.
Ingestion: If swallowed by accident, rinse mouth and avoid ingestion of food or drink; seek immediate medical attention to manage risk of gastrointestinal upset or allergic response.
Healthcare Advice: Individuals with pre-existing sensitivity may require observation and symptomatic care, especially after significant exposure.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, or foam for large-scale laboratory fires.
Specific Hazards: While the compound itself is not highly combustible, excessive heating can decompose it into irritating and toxic gases, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should use full protective clothing, including breathing apparatus, to minimize inhalation of smoke or dust.
Personal Precautions: Protective gloves, laboratory coats, and eye protection diminish risk from powder dispersal.
Spill Response: Gently sweep up the powder using tools and disposable wipes, minimizing dust. Only trained personnel should handle significant releases.
Environmental Measures: Avoid sweeping material into floor drains or sinks, especially in hospitals where untreated residue may reach municipal water systems.
General Handling: Avoid skin/eye contact and inhalation of dust. Use in a well-ventilated setting or chemical fume hood for quantity transfer or reconstitution.
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers, away from light, moisture, and temperature extremes; desiccated environments stretch shelf life. Pharmaceuticals adhere to specific cold-chain or room temperature criteria, based on manufacturer advice.
Incompatibilities: Acidic or strongly basic agents may degrade the molecule, while oxidizers could generate hazardous by-products.
Workplace Controls: Local extraction hoods catch airborne particles; regular surface wiping abates residue buildup.
Personal Protection: Laboratory workers wear safety goggles, gloves (typically nitrile or latex), and disposable gowns. Respiratory masks recommended where dust generation poses severe risk.
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA or ACGIH limits for deferoxamine mesylate, but general pharmaceutical handling limits apply to safeguard workers.
Appearance: Off-white to tan amorphous powder.
Solubility: Highly soluble in water; forms clear solutions when mixed properly.
Melting Point: Decomposes before melting, typically above 150°C.
Odor: Faintly characteristic, without strong or irritating smell.
pH: Aqueous solutions display slight acidity, often around pH 5.5 to 6.5.
Chemical Stability: Stable for months at recommended storage conditions. High heat, strong acids or strong bases increase degradation risk.
Hazardous Reactions: Contact with oxidizing chemicals may trigger hazardous decomposition and release of sulfur compounds or nitrogen oxides.
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, moisture at elevated temperatures, and reactive metals should be kept away from direct contact.
Acute Effects: Eyes, skin and respiratory tract may become irritated during over-exposure; accidental inhalation in powder form can lead to temporary coughing or sneezing.
Chronic Effects: Persistent exposure to high airborne concentrations could increase risk for sensitization and respiratory allergies, mostly in occupational settings.
Target Organs: Short-term contact rarely causes systemic toxicity outside of intentional high-dose medical use.
Aquatic Impact: Deferoxamine is not considered persistent, but significant discharges might alter microorganism balance near pharmaceutical manufacturing or health care sites.
Soil Mobility: Moderate; tends to bind with metal ions and remain in topsoil unless heavily irrigated.
Degradability: Breaks down under biological and sunlight exposure, but volume discharges could still reach aquatic habitats where aquatic toxicity data remains incomplete.
Waste Management: Segregate and incinerate large waste or contaminated disposables under local hazardous waste protocols. Avoid open drains and municipal solid waste streams.
Spill Material: Collected powder or cleaning residues should go into sealed, labeled containers for chemical waste pickup, preventing exposures or waterway contamination downstream.
Classification: Not subject to international transport restrictions for pharmaceuticals, provided packaging is secure and leak-proof.
Precautions: Use moisture-resistant, shatterproof containers; shippers avoid rough handling due to potential for airborne powder.
Labeling: Packages bear pharmaceutical identification, batch and expiration details for traceability in cold chain and routine hospital shipments.
Workplace Control: Federal and local agencies oversee laboratory, health care, and manufacturing settings, demanding risk assessments and exposure controls for all cytotoxic substances.
Pharmaceutical Tracking: Specific prescription and import controls—especially concerning unapproved use—reflect wider safety and public health protocols.
International Protocols: Standard chemical labeling and safety documentation conform to national and regional hazard communication standards, with material handlers bearing responsibility for ongoing updates as regulatory guidance changes to match new scientific evidence.
