2­Pentanone

IDLH Documentation
CAS number: 107­87­9

NIOSH REL: 150 ppm (530 mg/m3) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (700 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (700 mg/m3) TWA, 250 ppm (875 mg/m3) STEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 200 ppm (705 mg/m3) TWA, 250 ppm (881 mg/m3) STEL

Description of substance: Colorless to water­white liquid with a characteristic acetone­like odor.

LEL: . . 1.5% (10% LEL, 1,500 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 5,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that the maximum concentration that caused no serious disturbances in guinea pigs in 1 hour was 5,000 ppm [Yant et al. 1936].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species
Reference
LC50 (ppm)
LCLo (ppm)
Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)
Derived value
RatSmyth et al. 1962
LC17: 2,000
-----
4 hr
4,000 ppm (2.0)
400 ppm
RatSmyth et al. 1962
LC100: 4,000
-----
4 hr
8,000 ppm (2.0)
800 ppm
G. pigYant et al. 1936
-----
50,000
50 min
60,000 ppm (1.2)
6,000 ppm
G. pigYant et al. 1936
-----
13,000
5 hr
27,950 ppm (2.15)
2,795 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species
Reference
Route
LD50 (mg/kg)
LDLo (mg/kg)
Adjusted LD
Derived value
RatClayton and Clayton 1982
oral
1,600
-----
3,128 ppm
313 ppm
MouseClayton and Clayton 1982
oral
1,600
-----
3,128 ppm
313 ppm

Human data: Exposure to a concentration of 1,500 ppm was associated with complaints of ocular and upper respiratory irritation [Yant et al. 1936].

Revised IDLH: 1,500 ppm

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for 2­pentanone is 1,500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Yant et al. 1936]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 1,500 ppm. Also, this value is 10% of the lower explosive limit of 1.5%.

REFERENCES:

1. Clayton GD, Clayton FE, eds. [1982]. Patty's industrial hygiene and toxicology. 3rd rev. ed. Vol. 2A. Toxicology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 4735.

2. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1734.

3. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA [1962]. Range­finding toxicity data: list VI. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 23:95­107.

4. Yant WP, Patty FA, Schrenk HH [1936]. Acute response of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds. IX. Pentanone (methyl propyl ketone). Public Health Rep 51:392­399.
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