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PHYSOSTIGMINE

6.1 - Poison
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The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, the NFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
CAS Number UN/NA Number
  • 57-47-6
DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • Poison
none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
none none
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
White, odorless, microcrystalline powder. Used as a cholinergic (anticholinesterase) agent and as a veterinary medication. (EPA, 1998)

The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
none
Air & Water Reactions
No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water.
Fire Hazard
It is a slight fire hazard. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides. Keep from light and heat. (EPA, 1998)
Health Hazard
Super toxic. Probable oral lethal dose is less than 5 mg/kg for a 70 kg (150 lb.) person. Material is a cholinesterase inhibitor. Effects of exposure may involve the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Death occurs due to respiratory paralysis or impaired cardiac function. Time to death may vary from 5 minutes to 24 hours, in severely poisoned patients, depending on factors such as the dose and route. Persons with asthma and/or persons that require drugs containing choline esters are at risk. (EPA, 1998)
Reactivity Profile
No information available.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbent listed below. More info about absorbents, including situations to watch out for...

  • Mineral-Based & Clay-Based Absorbents

The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
This is a carbamate pesticide. As for carbamate pesticides, wear self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires.

Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire (material itself burns with difficulty). Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Use alcohol foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical. (EPA, 1998)
Non-Fire Response
This is a carbamate pesticide. As for other carbamate pesticides, avoid breathing dusts, and fumes from burning materials. Keep upwind. Avoid bodily contact with the material. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water. (EPA, 1998)
Protective Clothing
For emergency situations, wear a positive pressure, pressure-demand, full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or pressure- demand supplied air respirator with escape SCBA and a fully-encapsulating, chemical resistant suit. (EPA, 1998)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Note: Physostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor.

Signs and Symptoms of Physostigmine Exposure: Acute exposure to physostigmine usually leads to a cholinergic crisis. Signs and symptoms may include increased salivation, profuse sweating, lacrimation (tearing), spontaneous defecation, and spontaneous urination. Pinpoint pupils, blurred vision, headache, tremors, muscle twitching, slight paralysis, and loss of muscle coordination may occur. Malaise, mental confusion, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and coma may also be noted. Gastrointestinal effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Bradycardia (slow heart rate) occurs frequently. Pulmonary edema, dyspnea (shortness of breath), labored breathing, respiratory depression, or respiratory arrest may also occur.

Emergency Life-Support Procedures: Acute exposure to physostigmine may require decontamination and life support for the victims. Emergency personnel should wear protective clothing appropriate to the type and degree of contamination. Air-purifying or supplied-air respiratory equipment should also be worn, as necessary. Rescue vehicles should carry supplies such as plastic sheeting and disposable plastic bags to assist in preventing spread of contamination.

Inhalation Exposure:
1. Move victims to fresh air. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to physostigmine.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
4. Rush to a health care facility.

Dermal/Eye Exposure:
1. Remove victims from exposure. Emergency personnel should avoid self-exposure to physostigmine.
2. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
3. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
4. If eye exposure has occurred, eyes must be flushed with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
5. Wash exposed skin areas thoroughly with water.
6. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
7. Rush to a health care facility.

Ingestion Exposure:
1. Evaluate vital signs including pulse and respiratory rate, and note any trauma. If no pulse is detected, provide CPR. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is labored, administer oxygen or other respiratory support.
2. Obtain authorization and/or further instructions from the local hospital for administration of an antidote or performance of other invasive procedures.
3. Vomiting may be induced with syrup of Ipecac. If elapsed time since ingestion of physostigmine is unknown or suspected to be greater than 30 minutes, do not induce vomiting and proceed to Step
4. Ipecac should not be administered to children under 6 months of age. Warning: Ingestion of physostigmine may result in sudden onset of seizures or loss of consciousness. Syrup of Ipecac should be administered only if victims are alert, have an active gag reflex, and show no signs of impending seizure or coma. If ANY uncertainty exists, proceed to Step
4. The following dosages of Ipecac are recommended: children up to 1 year old, 10 mL (1/3 oz); children 1 to 12 years old, 15 mL (1/2 oz); adults, 30 mL (1 oz). Ambulate (walk) the victims and give large quantities of water. If vomiting has not occurred after 15 minutes, Ipecac may be readministered. Continue to ambulate and give water to the victims. If vomiting has not occurred within 15 minutes after second administration of Ipecac, administer activated charcoal.
4. Activated charcoal may be administered if victims are conscious and alert. Use 15 to 30 g (1/2 to 1 oz) for children, 50 to 100 g (1-3/4 to 3-1/2 oz) for adults, with 125 to 250 mL (1/2 to 1 cup) of water.
5. Promote excretion by administering a saline cathartic or sorbitol to conscious and alert victims. Children require 15 to 30 g (1/2 to 1 oz) of cathartic; 50 to 100 g (1-3/4 to 3 1/2 oz) is recommended for adults.
6. Rush to a health care facility. (EPA, 1998)

The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.

Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circumstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
Chemical Formula:
  • C15H21N3O2
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: 221 to 223°F (EPA, 1998)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: data unavailable
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: 275.34 (EPA, 1998)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

No AEGL information available.

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Physostigmine (57-47-6) 0.41 mg/m3 4.5 mg/m3 27 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Physostigmine 57-47-6 100/10000 pounds 100 pounds 100 pounds P204

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
  • CALABARINE
  • CARBAMIC ACID, METHYL-, ESTER WITH ESEROLINE
  • ERSERINE
  • ESERINE
  • (-)-ESERINE
  • ESEROLEIN, METHYLCARBAMATE(ESTER)
  • ESROMIOTIN
  • EZERIN
  • MCV 4484
  • NIH 10421
  • PHYSOSTIGMINE
  • (-)-PHYSOSTIGMINE
  • PHYSOSTOL
  • PYRROLO(2,3-B)INDOL-5-OL, 1,2,3,3A,8,8A-HEXAHYDRO-1,3A,8-TRIMETHYL-, METHYLCARBAMATE(ESTER),(3AS-CIS)-
  • PYRROLO[2,3-B]INDOL-5-OL, 1,2,3,3A,8,8A-HEXAHYDRO-1,3A,8-TRIMETHYL-, METHYLCARBAMATE (ESTER), (3AS-CIS)-

Version 3.0.0