Return to Methanesulfonyl Index Page

Activity: Fumigant, Insecticide, Wood Preservative
Structure:

Adverse Effects:
Ataxia
Blood
Brain
CNS - Irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase
Tremors/Convulsions

Ataxia (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Range of Toxicity:
-- Minimum lethal human exposure is unknown. In rats exposed by inhalation to a concentration of 2.2 ppm for 1 hour, only minimal salivation was seen; at 5 ppm for the same duration, copious salivation, eye and nose exudates, diarrhea, depression, ataxia, and tremors were observed.
-- ACUTE EXPOSURE. Methanesulfonyl fluoride is an irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase in vitro. It also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase and trypsinogen in vitro.
-- NEUROLOGIC. ACUTE EXPOSURE. Symptoms noted in experimental animals included CNS depression, tremors, ataxia, and convulsions. ANTICHOLINESTERASE COMPOUNDS can affect the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, producing restlessness, anxiety, headaches, convulsions, and coma.
Ref: TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances Data Base.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Methanesulfonyl.fluo.TOXNET.htm

Blood (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Range of Toxicity:
-- Minimum lethal human exposure is unknown. In rats exposed by inhalation to a concentration of 2.2 ppm for 1 hour, only minimal salivation was seen; at 5 ppm for the same duration, copious salivation, eye and nose exudates, diarrhea, depression, ataxia, and tremors were observed.
-- Only subclinical alterations of blood glucose, serum creatinine, total bilirubin, and depression of acetylcholinesterase were noted in rats exposed by inhalation to 19 or 91 ppb of methanesulfonyl fluoride for 61 exposures, each lasting 7 hours.
-- ACUTE EXPOSURE. Methanesulfonyl fluoride is an irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase in vitro. It also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase and trypsinogen in vitro.
Ref: TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances Data Base.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Methanesulfonyl.fluo.TOXNET.htm

Brain (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Abstract: TD3: This citation summarizes a one-page announcement of technology available for utilization. Chemicals that markedly inhibit the enzyme cholinesterase (ChE) in the rat brain but relatively little in other tissues have been discovered by Dr. Donald E. Moss and his colleagues at the University of Texas at EL Paso (UTEP). Dr. Moss and his colleagues found that phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and methanesulfonyl fluoride (MSF) inhibited 90 percent of ChE activity in the rat brain but less than 35 percent in other tissues. The enzyme hydrolyzes acetylcholine, a vital neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine is markedly deficient in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease, due at least in part to decreased synthesis, Dr. Moss points out. 'A therapeutic strategy, therefore, would be to cut down ChE's destructive action so that the little bit of neurotransmitter that is being synthesized lasts longer,' he says. Dr. Moss points out that a big advantage of MSF and PMSF over other drugs is their apparent l
Ref: New Chemicals Markedly Inhibit Cholinesterase. Authors: Anon. Author Address: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. Source: Govt Reports Announcements & Index (GRA&I), Issue 23, 1986. Order Number: NTIS/NTN86-0746, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact: Research Resources Information Center, 1601 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD; (301)984-2870, Refer to X, No. 1., 1p. As cited at Toxnet.

BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Mice were injected with an anticholinesterase, methanesulfonyl fluoride (MSF, 1.5 mg/kg) or O,O-dimethyl O-(2,2-dichlorovinyl) phosphate (DDVP, 10 mg/kg) singly or repeatedly and examined for synaptic activities on the cerebral cholinergic system and behavior. MSF inhibited the activity of cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE) more slowly but more irreversibly than DDVP. Although a single injection of DDVP increased the concentrations of total, extraterminal, intraterminal and cytoplasmic acetylcholine (ACh) remarkably shortly after injection, MSF was still as effective at 24 h as 3 h after administration in increasing the concentrations of fractional ACh. Repeated injection of MSF for 3 d showed a significant reduction in the activity of AChE one day after cessation with a slight recovery 5 d later. Repeated administration of DDVP for 10 days showed a less significant reduction in the ac tivity of AChE one day after cessation with considerable recovery 14 d later. Although a single injection of DDVP showed suppressive effects on locomotor activity, rectal temperature and rotarod performance in mice, the administration of MSF did not produce any significant effects, while DDVP suppressed locomotor activity and rectal temperature during and after the term of repeated injection. MSF showed a significant suppressive effect only at the 3rd day without causing any other changes during or after the term of repeated injection. In conclusion, MSF causes similar, but longer lasting effects on cholinergic mechanisms than DDVP and has fewer suppressive effects on behavioral parameters than DDVP.
Ref: KOBAYASHI H et al. (1999). Effects of a central anticholinesterase, methanesulfonyl fluoride on the cerebral cholinergic system and behavior in mice: Comparison with an organophosphate DDVP. JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCE; 45 (4). 1999. 191-202. As cited on Toxnet.

CNS (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Range of Toxicity:
-- Minimum lethal human exposure is unknown. In rats exposed by inhalation to a concentration of 2.2 ppm for 1 hour, only minimal salivation was seen; at 5 ppm for the same duration, copious salivation, eye and nose exudates, diarrhea, depression, ataxia, and tremors were observed.
-- Only subclinical alterations of blood glucose, serum creatinine, total bilirubin, and depression of acetylcholinesterase were noted in rats exposed by inhalation to 19 or 91 ppb of methanesulfonyl fluoride for 61 exposures, each lasting 7 hours.
-- ACUTE EXPOSURE. Methanesulfonyl fluoride is an irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase in vitro. It also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase and trypsinogen in vitro.
-- NEUROLOGIC. ACUTE EXPOSURE. Symptoms noted in experimental animals included CNS depression, tremors, ataxia, and convulsions. ANTICHOLINESTERASE COMPOUNDS can affect the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, producing restlessness, anxiety, headaches, convulsions, and coma.
Ref: TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances Data Base.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Methanesulfonyl.fluo.TOXNET.htm

Tremors/Convulsions (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

Range of Toxicity:
-- Minimum lethal human exposure is unknown. In rats exposed by inhalation to a concentration of 2.2 ppm for 1 hour, only minimal salivation was seen; at 5 ppm for the same duration, copious salivation, eye and nose exudates, diarrhea, depression, ataxia, and tremors were observed.
-- ACUTE EXPOSURE. Methanesulfonyl fluoride is an irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase in vitro. It also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase and trypsinogen in vitro.
-- NEUROLOGIC. ACUTE EXPOSURE. Symptoms noted in experimental animals included CNS depression, tremors, ataxia, and convulsions. ANTICHOLINESTERASE COMPOUNDS can affect the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, producing restlessness, anxiety, headaches, convulsions, and coma.
Ref: TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances Data Base.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Methanesulfonyl.fluo.TOXNET.htm