Mercury compounds are used in a wide variety of settings by chemical manufacturers. Chemical uses of mercury may occur in catalysts, cosmetics, explosives, fireworks, livestock and poultry remedies, packaging,  pharmaceuticals, pigments and dyes, poisons, preservatives, and special paper coatings. Commonly used mercury compounds include mercuric oxide (cathode material in batteries), mercuric chloride (pharmaceuticals), phenylmercuric acetate (used in paints and pharmaceuticals) mercuric sulfide (used in red pigment and other pharmaceuticals), and thimerosal (thiomersal) (contact lens solutions)