Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine
| Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine[1] | |
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2,6-Dithia- 1,3,5,7- tetraaza- tricyclo [3.3.1.13,7] decane 2,2,6,6-tetraoxide |
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Other names
Tetramine, TETS, DSTA, Dushuqiang, Four-two-four, 424, NSC 172824, Meishuming, Sanbudao |
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| Identifiers | |
| Abbreviations | TETS, DSTA |
| CAS number | 80-12-6  |
| PubChem | 64148 |
| ChemSpider | 57722 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C4H8N4O4S2 |
| Molar mass | 240.26 g/mol |
| Appearance | White powder |
| Melting point |
255–260 °C |
| Solubility in water | 0.25 mg/mL |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Poison |
| LD50 | 0.20 mg/kg (mice) |
 (verify) (what is:  / ?)Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine is an organic compound that is used as a rodenticide (rat poison).[2] It is an odorless, tasteless white powder that is slightly soluble in water, DMSO and acetone, and insoluble in methanol and ethanol. It is a sulfamide derivative. When crystallized from acetone, it forms cubic crystals with a melting point of 255–260 °C.
[edit] Toxicity and mechanism
Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) is a neurotoxin, causing lethal convulsions. Its effect is similar to picrotoxin, another cage convulsant. As one of the most hazardous pesticides, it is 100x more toxic than potassium cyanide. It might be a more powerful convulsant than strychnine. It is a non-competitive GABA antagonist and binds irreversibly to neuronal GABA receptors and disables chloride channels, activating neurons. No antidote is known. Lethal dose for humans are 7-10 milligrams. Poisoning is diagnosed by gas chromatography and the treatment is mainly supportive, with large doses of benzodiazepines and pyridoxine.[3] It is retained in tissues of poisoned poultry and animals, posing a risk of secondary poisoning.
[edit] Continued use in China
Its use worldwide has been banned since 1984, but due to continuing demand and its ease of production,[4][5] it is still readily, although illegally, available in China and can be found in some illegally imported rat poisons. The best known Chinese rodenticide, containing about 6-20% TETS, is Dushuqiang, "very strong rat poison". It has been used for mass poisonings in China: in April 2004, there were 74 casualties after eating scallion-flavored pancakes tainted by their vendor's competitor; and in September 2002, 400 people were poisoned and 38 died from contaminated food.[6][7] In 2002, there was one documented case of accidental poisoning in the US.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 9158.
- ^ Basic datasheet for tetramethylene disulfotetramine
- ^ a b , (2003). "Poisoning by an Illegally Imported Chinese Rodenticide Containing Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine—New York City, 2002". JAMA 289 (20): 2640–2642. doi:10.1001/jama.289.20.2640. PMID 12771101. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289/20/2640.
- ^ G. Hecht and H. Henecka, "Über ein hochtoxisches Kondensationsprodukt von Sulfamid und Formaldehyd," Angewandte Chemie, vol. 61, no. 9, pages 365-366 (1949).
- ^ Bayer corporation of Leverkusen, Germany, "Rodenticidal compositions," U.S. Patent no. 2,650,186 (issued: August 25, 1953).
- ^ K. Scott Whitlow, Martin Belson, Fermin Barrueto, Lewis Nelson, and Alden K. Henderson (June 2005) "Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine: Old agent and new terror," Annals of Emergency Medicine, vol. 45, no. 6, pages 609-613. Available on-line at: http://www.dead-planet.net/chemical-terrorism/pdfs/oldagent.pdf .
- ^ See also: E. Croddy (2004) "Rat poison and food security in the People's Republic of China: focus on tetramethylene disulfotetramine (tetramine)," Archives of Toxicology, volume 78, pages 1-6.
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