Interpet Anti Whitespot Plus

[ronanphilip]

what are the Ingredients of interpet anti whitespot plus?

on the bottel it says limited evidence of carcinogenic effects. is this stuff dangerous to use. just thinking of things like puting hands in tank or sucking on a pipe to do water changes and swallowing some of the water. or useing the glass we poured the stuff in after its been in the dish washer.

 

[5teady_2012]

dont suck on the pipe, egt a gravel cleaner type of one, then you can start the flow off without sucking...

Although, one of my tanks is to low to the ground to use that so i have no choice toher than to suck to start the flow, and i have swallowed plenty of water in the past, swallowed a mouthfull the otherday andf it had been treated with myxazin, i feel fine though lol.

 

[Bignose]

It might be worth calling/emailing Interpet and asking for a copy of their MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). The MSDS will explain out all the risks of using any chemical. If Interpet won't give you one, I'd stop doing business with them, any reputable company should give out MSDSs to customers so they can be informed of the risk. Lots of companies put these on their webpages today, but I couldn't find one for Interpet.

The ingredient is probably formalin -- a mixture of water and formaldehyde and methanol (usually). Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. While the risk is low, it isn't necessary to take chances. Wear gloves when using the treatment, wash your hands thoroughly, and just be smart about it. Don't take dumb risks with it. A lot of chemicals we use are hazardous, but if you are smart about it, the risk can be reduced to almost zero.

 

[emmsy]

I AGREE TOTALLY. Some of these chemicals are very hazardous on their own in meds, however, mixed as a treatment with other chemicals, their effects are somewhat reduced.ALWAYS wear gloves when dealing with meds, and follow the directions exactly. Meds are made to be diluted, so in their bottle form, it is a concentrate.

Take care

Emma

 

[Spider Pig]

Is the interpet stuff green? Another possible carcinogen is malachite green which is found in King british ws3. Also don't drink the stuff:
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...m.php?news=1638

 

[ronanphilip]

thanks for the replys folks

It might be worth calling/emailing Interpet and asking for a copy of their MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

email has been sent

The ingredient is probably formalin -- a mixture of water and formaldehyde and methanol (usually)

it does say contains formaldehyde and methanol on the bottle

Is the interpet stuff green?

its blue stuff

 

[Bignose]

I AGREE TOTALLY. Some of these chemicals are very hazardous on their own in meds, however, mixed as a treatment with other chemicals, their effects are somewhat reduced.ALWAYS wear gloves when dealing with meds, and follow the directions exactly. Meds are made to be diluted, so in their bottle form, it is a concentrate.

Take care

Emma

Actually, emmsy, sometimes mixing chemicals enhances their "abilities". Where abilities could mean anything. The formalin and methylene blue mixture (which since the bottle says formaldehyde and methanol and it is blue in color, this is most likely the ingredients of the medication) are each stronger in terms of fighting ich when they are mixed together than each is individually. That is, the therapeutic concentration of formalin and of methylene blue is each lower when mixed together than the respective therapeutic concentrations of each individually.

Now, I don't know this for a fact in this case, but it would not surprise me in the least if sometimes two substances mixed together were more carcinogenic than each of their individual components. Not always does dilution mean safer.

 

[emmsy]

oh absolutely mate,however, as a rule of thumb, concentrates are more potent than a diluted solution. Some chemicals in meds require water to activate the active ingredients, in this case, the concentrate is less potent. I was trying to explain in more layman's terms rather than get all technical on him.
It contains a new ingredient called Procell, which acts as an enhancer for the other chemicals in the product. This allows the active chemicals to be used in safer concentrations.


Emma

 

[Majjie]

I know this thread is a few weeks old - but I thought I'd just add a bit to it.

I bought a new bottle of Interpet Anti Whitespot a couple of months ago when some new fish came out in spots. I didn't look at the ingredients, I just used it and it worked fine.

In the last couple of weeks, though, I've had a more serious outbreak of whitespot, following a problem with aeration in the tank. One of the fish also had what could have been a fungal growth on his eye - so I used Waterlife's Protozin which says it's also anti-fungal. Once again I didn't look at the ingredients (terrible admission for an ex-biochemist) I just used it.

Not so successful this time! Fish with the eye problem died (I had transferred him to a hospital tank by then) and white spot was getting worse. Had run out of Protozin, mid-course, so got a new bottle and this time read the directions on both bottles. I think all fish medications are now getting more ingredients listed on them.

Interpet Anti Whitespot has Formaldehyde (approx. 4.5% w/v - which seems very high) and Malachite Green (approx. 0.05% w/v) as active ingredients - in spite of being blue, not green. It will be the formaldehyde that is carcinogenic - malachite green is just toxic!. If you get a mouthful - spit it out and rinse your mouth with water - don't swallow it!!

The Protozin, on the other hand, contains a slightly higher level of Malachite Green (0.085% w/w), a very much lower level of formaldehyde (0.07% w/w - hence their label only says irritant - not potential carcinogen) and also contains Copper Sulphate (0.015% w/w). The new bottle also had a warning against using it in tanks with shrimps in.

I was a bit alarmed by this news, since I have Amano shrimp in my tank and had already given them a couple of full doses - so I halved the dose (as recommended for sensitive species) and e-mailed Waterlife (who are brilliant at getting back to you in answer to queries - I've tried them before). I suspected they must have changed the formula.

Turns out they haven't changed the formula at all - they've just had some complaints about shrimps dying. They've tested Protozin in their laboratories and not found any ill effects on shrimp - but have put the warning on the bottle, just to be on the safe side.

I then had to decide which treatment to use next - another dose of Protozin or try the Interpet (white spot still very much in evidence). I plumped for the Protozin - at full strength. Three ingredients seems better than two - the level of formaldehyde seems awfully high in the Interpet treatment - and changing treatments is probably more stressful than repeating the same one; the fish are already quite stressed. Still meant changing 50% of the 280-ish litres of water though

Fingers crossed ... that I made the right choice for zapping the white spot ... and that the shrimps are ok

 

[ronanphilip]

got a reply from interpet on friday

Dear Ronan

Further to your email requesting material safety data for our AntiWhitespot Plus, please find attached the relevant COSHH sheet

Your additional comment regarding carcinogenic effects, we have passed your email to our research department and will communicate again once

we have received their reply

i thought it was blue stuff but im colour blind so asked the girlfriend and she thought it was blue but acording to this its

Appearance : Dark green aqueous solution

​

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)​

​

Revision

Date SDS revised : 7[sup]th[/sup] August 2002



Supersedes SDS dated : 20[sup]th[/sup] March 2001 Issue No.: 4/0566





1. Identification of the Substance / Preparation and Company of Origin



Substance or preparation trade name : Aquarium Treatment No 6 Anti-Whitespot Plus



Reference No. / Product Code : 0566 100ml

0586 1litre



Company / Source :



Interpet Tel : 01306 881033

Vincent Lane

Dorking Fax : 01306 885009

Surrey

RH4 3YX





Emergency telephone No. : As above





2. Composition / Information on ingredients



Substance : No Name : N/A

CAS No. : N/A EC Index No. : N/A EEC No. : N/A



Preparation : Yes



Risk and Safety Phrases :



R20/21/22 Harmful by inhalation, incontact with skin and if swallowed

R40 Limited evidence of carcinogenic effects

R43 Maycause sensitisation by skin contact



S 1/2 Keep locked up and out of reach of children

S7 Keep container tightly closed

S24/25 Avoid contact with skin and eyes

S26 Incase of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice

S28 After contact with skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water

S46 If swallowed seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label









3. Hazards Identification



Most important hazards are : Harmful if ingested.

Harmful if inhaled or with contact with skin with prolonged repeated

exposure.

Maybe irritating to eyes or skin.

May cause sensitiation with prolonged repeated exposure.



4. First Aid Measures



Inhalation : Remove from exposure, rest and keep warm. If breathing is difficult, seek

medical advice.



Skin Contact : Remove any contaminated clothing and wash immediately with plenty of

soap and water.



Eye Contact : Rinse immediately with plenty os water for at least 10 minutes and seek

medical advice.



Ingestion : Wash out mouth with water. Give plenty of water to drink.

Do not induce vomiting. Obtain medical advice.



5. Fire Fighting Measures



Suitable extinguishing media : All.

Use extinguishing media suitable to surroundings.



Unsuitable extinguishing media : None known



Special exposure hazards in fire : May liberate irritant or toxic fumes on thermal decomposition.



Required special protective equipment for fire fighters : General equipment.





6. Accidental Release Measures

NB. Appropriate to quantity released.



Personal precautions : Impervious gloves, overalls, suitable glasses/gloves. Do not inhale vapours.



Environmental precautions : Try to contain any spillage, using inert absorbant material such as soil or sand. Prevent entry into drains or water courses.



Methods of cleaning : Scrape/sweep up material into suitable container for disposal. Wash down area with copious quantites of water.


















7. Handling and Storage



Handling : No special instructions. Avoid skin/eye contact.

Do not inhale vapours.



Storage : Cool, dry environment away from direct sun light.

Avoid large temperature changes







8. Exposure Controls

NB. Appropriate to quantity handled.



Take measures to prevent : Spillage. Skin/eye contact



Exposure control limits, and source : N/A



Respiratory protection : Organic respirator suitable for Aldehydes



Hand protection : A general, impervious glove.



Skin protection : Not necessary provided reasonable care taken.



Eye protection : Suitable goggles/safety glasses





9. Physical and Chemical Properties



Appearance : Dark green aqueous solution Flash point (°C) : N/A



Odour : Strong, acrid Flammability : N/A



pH : 2 - 4 Oxidising Properties : N/A



Density : Not determined Solubility (water) : Soluble

Boiling Point : Not determined Other :







10. Stability and Reactivity



Conditions to avoid : Large changes in temperature and damp environments



Materials to avoid : Do not store with acids, alkalis, metallic salts, oxidising and reducing agents



Hazardous decomposition products : Not known





11. Toxicological Information



Description of toxicological properties, including any special health effects of constituents :



No information available, treat as per Formaldehyde





12. Ecological Information



Possible effects : Not known



Behaviour : No information available



Environmental fate : Total dispersal in water

Inform local authorities if large spill enters surface drains





13. Disposal Considerations



Likely residues / waste product (if any) : No hazardous residues.



Safe handling of any residues/waste product : Landfilled or burned in accordance with local regulations





14. Transportation Information



Special carriage precautions : Keep upright.



Classification Data : Product not classified as hazardous under CHIP 3 (Chemicals Hazard Information and Packaging)





15. Regulatory Information



Supply label information : Product classified under current CHIP 3 regulations.



Contains Formaldehyde



R20/21/22 Harmful by inhalation, incontact with skin and if swallowed

R40 Limited evidence of carcinogenic effects

R43 Maycause sensitisation by skin contact



S 1/2 Keep locked up and out of reach of children

S7 Keep container tightly closed

S24/25 Avoid contact with skin and eyes

S26 Incase of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice

S28 After contact with skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water

S46 If swallowed seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label







16. Other Information



Training Advice : Read accompanying information and use only according to manufacturers instructions.



Recommended uses/restrictions : Control of parasitic diseases in aquarium fish. .



Further information sources :



Other :







Note :



The data contained in this Safety Data Sheet has been supplied as required by the Chemicals (Hazard Identification and Packaging) Regulations 2002, as amended, for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of industrial and commercial users, who are deemed capable of understanding and acting on the information provided.



Please ensure that it is passed to the appropriate person(s) in your company, who are capable of acting on the information.



This data sheet does not constitute a user's assessment of workplace risk as required by HSW act, COSHH, Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations, or other health and safety legislation.