Acetone
Environmental Sources
Acetone is a manufactured chemical, a by-product of certain
industrial processes, and also occurs naturally in the environment.
It is a colourless liquid with a distinct smell and taste.
It evaporates easily, is flammable, and dissolves in water.
It is a volatile organic compound.
And is manufactured for use in plastic, fibres, drugs, and
other chemicals. It is also used to dissolve other substances
such as paint. Industrial processes contribute more acetone
to the environment than natural processes. It occurs naturally
in plants, trees, volcanic gases, forest fires, and as a product
of the breakdown of body fat. It is present in vehicle exhaust,
tobacco smoke, and landfill sites.
Human Health effects
If you are exposed to acetone, it goes into your blood which
then carries it to all the organs in your body. If it is a
small amount, the liver breaks it down to chemicals that are
not harmful and uses these chemicals to make energy for normal
body functions. Breathing moderate- to-high levels of acetone
for short periods of time, however, can cause nose, throat,
lung, and eye irritation; headaches; light-headedness; confusion;
increased pulse rate; effects on blood; nausea; vomiting;
unconsciousness and possibly coma; and shortening of the menstrual
cycle in women.
Swallowing very high levels of acetone can result in unconsciousness
and damage to the skin in your mouth. Skin contact can result
in irritation and damage to your skin.
The smell and respiratory irritation or burning eyes that
occur from moderate levels are excellent warning signs that
can help you avoid breathing damaging levels of acetone.
Health effects from long-term exposures are known mostly
from animal studies. Kidney, liver, and nerve damage, increased
birth defects, and lowered ability to reproduce (males only)
occurred in animals exposed long-term. It is not known if
people would have these same effects.
Exposure limits
- The US EPA requires that spills of 5,000 pounds or more
of acetone be reported.
- The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has set a maximum concentration limit in workplace air of
1,000 parts of acetone per million parts of air (1,000 ppm)
for an 8-hour workday over a 40-hour week to protect workers.
- The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) recommends an exposure limit of 250 ppm in workplace
air for up to a 10-hour workday over a 40-hour workweek.
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