How Do You Spell THIMEROSAL?

Pronunciation: [θa͡ɪmɹˈə͡ʊzə͡l] (IPA)

"Thimerosal" is a word that is often used when discussing vaccines. It is spelled with four syllables: "thi-mer-o-sal." The first syllable is pronounced with a "th" sound, written as /θ/ in IPA. The second syllable is pronounced with a "m" sound, written as /m/. The third syllable is pronounced with a "er" sound, written as /er/. The final syllable is pronounced with a "sal" sound, written as /sæl/. It is important to spell this word correctly in scientific literature and medical discussions.

THIMEROSAL Meaning and Definition

1. Thimerosal is a chemical compound that is used as a preservative in vaccines and other medicinal products. It is an organomercury compound, specifically an ethylmercury derivative of thiosalicylic acid. Thimerosal serves as an antimicrobial agent, preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi in vaccines and other pharmaceutical preparations.

   In vaccines, thimerosal is primarily used to prevent contamination and maintain the sterility of multidose vials. It helps to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines by preventing bacterial or fungal growth that could compromise their potency or cause adverse reactions. Thimerosal is effective in small amounts due to the antimicrobial properties of the ethylmercury it contains.

   Although thimerosal poses minimal risks to human health in the concentrations used in vaccines, concerns have been raised about its potential toxicity, particularly in relation to mercury exposure. However, numerous scientific studies have consistently demonstrated the safety of thimerosal in vaccines, and regulatory agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to endorse its use.

   Over time, thimerosal has been phased out in routine childhood vaccines in many countries as a precautionary measure, even though scientific evidence does not support a link between thimerosal in vaccines and developmental disabilities. Nonetheless, it is important to note that thimerosal remains an integral part of some vaccines and is considered safe for use in the appropriate concentrations.

Common Misspellings for THIMEROSAL

• rhimerosal
• fhimerosal
• ghimerosal
• yhimerosal
• 6himerosal
• 5himerosal
• tgimerosal
• tbimerosal
• tnimerosal
• tjimerosal
• tuimerosal
• tyimerosal
• thumerosal
• thjmerosal
• thkmerosal
• thomerosal
• th9merosal
• th8merosal
• thinerosal

Etymology of THIMEROSAL

The word "thimerosal" derives from the combination of two parts: "thi-" and "merosal".

The prefix "thi-" comes from the chemical name for sulfur, which is "thio". Sulfur compounds are often represented with the prefix "thi-" in chemical nomenclature.

The term "merosal" refers to the compound's mercury content. It is derived from the word "mercury" combined with the suffix "-osal", which is commonly used in chemical compounds.

Therefore, "thimerosal" refers to a compound that contains both sulfur and mercury.

Similar spelling word for THIMEROSAL

• The Americas.