The Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances

2 - Butanone

RTECS #: EL6475000

CAS #: 78-93-3

UPDATE: February 2005 MW: 72.12 MF: C4H8O


NOTE:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
  1. SYNONYMS:
  2. SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION DATA:
  3. MUTATION DATA:
  4. REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS DATA:
  5. ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
  6. OTHER MULTIPLE DOSE DATA:
  7. REVIEWS:
  8. STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS:
  9. NIOSH DOCUMENTATION AND SURVEILLANCE:
  10. STATUS IN FEDERAL AGENCIES:
  11. REFERENCES:

SYNONYMS:

  1. 2 - Butanone (OSHA)
  2. 3 - Butanone
  3. Acetone, methyl -
  4. Aethylmethylketon (German)
  5. Butanone
  6. Butanone 2 (French)
  7. Ethyl methyl cetone (French)
  8. Ethylmethylketon (Dutch)
  9. Ketone, ethyl methyl
  1. MEK (OSHA)
  2. Meetco
  3. Methyl acetone
  4. Methyl ethyl ketone
  5. Methyl ethyl ketone (ACGIH:OSHA)
  6. Metiletilchetone (Italian)
  7. Metyloetyloketon (Polish)
  8. RCRA waste number U159


SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION DATA AND REFERENCES:

ROUTE/
ORGANISM 		DOSE
EFFECT

 REFERENCE
eye
human 		350 ppm N/R JIHTAB 25,282,1943
eye
rabbit 		80 mg N/R TXAPA9 19,276,1971
skin
rabbit 		500 mg/24 hour moderate JIHTAB 25,282,1943
skin
rabbit 		402 mg/24 hour mild TXAPA9 19,276,1971
skin
rabbit 		14 mg/24 hour open irritation test mild AIHAAP 23,95,1962


MUTATION DATA AND REFERENCES:

SYSTEM TEST ROUTE/
ORGANISM/
TISSUE 		DOSE REFERENCE
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction Saccharomyes cerevisiae 33,800 ppm MUREAV 149,339,1985


REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS DATA AND REFERENCES:

ROUTE/
ORGANISM 		DOSE
EFFECT

 REFERENCE
inhalation
mouse 		lowest published toxic concentration: 3,000 ppm/7 hour (6-15 day pregnant) Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus) FAATDF 16,742,1991
inhalation
mouse 		lowest published toxic concentration: 3,000 ppm (6-15 day pregnant) Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Craniofacial (including nose and tongue)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Musculoskeletal system 		NTIS** #DE89-009563
inhalation
rat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 3,000 ppm/7 hour (6-15 day pregnant) Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Craniofacial (including nose and tongue)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Urogenital system

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Homeostasis 		TXAPA9 28,452,1974
inhalation
rat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 1,000 ppm/7 hour (6-15 day pregnant) Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Musculoskeletal system 		TXAPA9 28,452,1974
inhalation
rat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 2,900 mg/m3 (6-10 day pregnant) Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Craniofacial (including nose and tongue)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Musculoskeletal system

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Gastrointestinal system 		VCVGK* -,418,1994


TUMORIGENIC DATA AND REFERENCES:

ROUTE/
ORGANISM 		DOSE
EFFECT

 REFERENCE
N/R
 N/R N/R N/R


ACUTE TOXICITY DATA AND REFERENCES:

ROUTE/
ORGANISM 		DOSE
EFFECT

 REFERENCE
inhalation
cat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 25,000 mg/m3 Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of salivary glands VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
cat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 50,000 mg/m3 Eye: Conjunctiva irritation VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
guinea pig 		lowest published toxic concentration: 30,000 mg/m3/2 minute Eye: Conjunctiva irritation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough 		VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
guinea pig 		lowest published toxic concentration: 30,000 mg/m3/4 hour Behavioral: General anesthetic

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema

Liver: Other changes 		VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
guinea pig 		lowest published toxic concentration: 97,300 mg/m3/30 minute Behavioral: Ataxia VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
guinea pig 		lowest published lethal concentration: 97,300 mg/m3/1 hour Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema

Liver: Other changes

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes 		VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
human 		lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppm/5 minute Olfaction: Other olfaction effects

Eye: Conjunctiva irritation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes 		JIHTAB 25,282,1943
inhalation
human 		lowest published toxic concentration: 1,000 mg/m3 Eye: Conjunctiva irritation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough 		VCVGK* -,417,1994
inhalation
human 		lowest published toxic concentration: 10 ppm/4 hour Cardiac: Pulse rate decreased with fall in BP

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes 		NRTXDN 24,179,2003
inhalation
mammal (species unspecified) 		lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 38 gm/m3 N/R GISAAA 51(5),61,1986
inhalation
mouse 		lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 32 gm/m3/4 hour N/R CUTOEX 1,47,1993
inhalation
mouse 		lowest published toxic concentration: 25,000 mg/m3/2 hour Behavioral: General anesthetic

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema

Liver: Other changes 		VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
mouse 		lowest published lethal concentration: 40,000 mg/m3 Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema

Liver: Other changes

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes 		VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation
mouse 		lowest published toxic concentration: 4,000 ppm/6 minute Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression TOLED5 9,137,1981
inhalation
rat 		lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 23,500 mg/m3/8 hour N/R AIHAAP 20,364,1959
inhalation
rabbit 		lowest published toxic concentration: 1,250 mg/m3 Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve VCVGK* -,417,1984
intraperitoneal
guinea pig 		lowest published lethal dose: 2 gm/kg Liver: Other changes

Immunological Including Allergic: Other immediate (humoral): uticaria, allergic rhinitis, serum sickness (multiple organ involvement)

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Lipids including transport 		FCTXAV 15,627,1977
intraperitoneal
mouse 		lethal dose (50 percent kill): 616 mg/kg N/R SCCUR* -,6,1961
intraperitoneal
rat 		lethal dose (50 percent kill): 607 mg/kg N/R ENVRAL 40,411,1986
oral
human 		lowest published lethal dose: 714.3 mg/kg N/R VCVGK* -,417,1994
oral
mouse 		lethal dose (50 percent kill): 3,000 mg/kg N/R VCVGK* -,417,1984
oral
rat 		lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2,737 mg/kg N/R TXAPA9 19,699,1971
skin
rabbit 		lethal dose (50 percent kill): 6,480 mg/kg N/R SHELL* MSDS-5390-4


OTHER MULTIPLE DOSE DATA AND REFERENCES:

ROUTE/
ORGANISM 		DOSE
EFFECT

 REFERENCE
inhalation
mammal (species unspecified) 		lowest published toxic concentration: 588 mg/m3/12 hour/24 week- intermittent Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve VCVGK* -,418,1994
inhalation
rat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 5,000 ppm/6 hour/90 day- intermittent Liver: Changes in liver weight

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Urine volume increased

Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Transaminases 		FAATDF 3,264,1983
inhalation
rat 		lowest published toxic concentration: 750 ppm/7 hour/7 day- intermittent Liver: Liver function tests impaired TXAPA9 41,285,1977
inhalation
woman 		lowest published toxic concentration: 61 mg/m3/169 week- intermittent Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Sensory change involving peripheral nerve

Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve 		VCVGK* -,418,1994
oral
mouse 		lowest published toxic dose: 3,000 ppm/10 day- intermittent Liver: Changes in liver weight NTIS** #DE89-009563
subcutaneous
cat 		lowest published toxic dose: 55,500 mg/kg/37 week- intermittent Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field TXAPA9 37,301,1976


REVIEWS:

ORGANIZATION STANDARD
REFERENCE
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value time-weighted average 200 ppm DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2002
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value short term exposure limit 300 ppm DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW
TOLED5 127,111,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW
NTIS** DE89-563
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW
TOLED5 128,99,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW
TOLED5 140-141,261,2003


STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS:

ORGANIZATION STANDARD
REFERENCE
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION FEREAC 54,7740,1989
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1998 STATUS OF PESTICIDES: Cancelled RBREV* -,263,1998
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD - air time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) DTLVS* 3,29,1971
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry) 8 hour time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction) 8 hour time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards) 8 hour time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors) 8 hour time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Exposure Limit - AUSTRALIA time-weighted average 150 ppm (445 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 300 ppm, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - AUSTRIA MAK 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - BELGIUM time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 300 ppm (885 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - DENMARK time-weighted average 50 ppm (145 mg/m3), Skin, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - FINLAND short term exposure limit 100 ppm, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - FRANCE VME 200 ppm (600 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - GERMANY MAK 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - HUNGARY time-weighted average 200 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 600 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - INDIA time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 300 ppm (885 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - THE NETHERLANDS MAC-TGG 590 mg/m3, Skin, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit - NORWAY time-weighted average 75 ppm (220 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - THE PHILIPPINES time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - POLAND MAC(time-weighted average) 200 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) 850 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - RUSSIA time-weighted average 200 ppm, short term exposure limit 200 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - SWEDEN NGV 50 ppm (150 mg/m3), KTV 100 ppm (300 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - SWITZERLAND MAK- week 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), KZG-V 400 ppm (1180 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit - TURKEY time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit - UNITED KINGDOM time-weighted average 200 ppm (600 mg/m3), STE;
300 ppm, Skin, SPE2000
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN, KOREA American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value;

short term exposure limit 300 ppm
Occupational Exposure Limit IN NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, VIETNAM American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value
short term exposure limit 300 ppm


NIOSH DOCUMENTATION AND SURVEILLANCE:

ORGANIZATION STANDARD or SURVEY
REFERENCE
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO METHYL ETHYL KETONE-air 10 hour time-weighted average 200 ppm;
short term exposure limit 300 ppm 		NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974 National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974: Hazard Code: 13980;
Number of Industries 319;
Total Number of Facilities 64,013;
Number of Occupations 177;
Total Number of Employees Exposed 801,382
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983 National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983: Hazard Code: 13980;
Number of Industries 318;
Total Number of Facilities 87,227;
Number of Occupations 208;
Total Number of Employees Exposed 1,447,456;
Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 245,372


STATUS IN FEDERAL AGENCIES:

ORGANIZATION
REFERENCE
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/93/110708/AS)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Inconclusive: B subtilis rec assay
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA 8(a) PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT INFORMATION, FINAL RULE FEREAC 47,26992,82
Used as an industrial chemical, solvent, emulsifier, in manufacture of plastics, resins
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
On EPA IRIS database
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Methyl ethyl ketone, 2500; in blood, 8002
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1996: Volatile organic compound, 2549
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #84
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #1004


REFERENCES:

CODEN
REFERENCE
AIHAAP American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. (AIHA, 475 Wolf Ledges Pkwy., Akron, OH 44311) V.19- 1958-
CFRGBR Code of Federal Regulations. (U.S. Government Printing Office, Supt. of Documents, Washington, DC 20402)
CUTOEX Current Toxicology. (Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 6080 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 207, Commack, NY 11725) V.1 1993-
DTLVS* The Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) booklet issues by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Cincinnati, OH, 1996
ENVRAL Environmental Research. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1967-
FAATDF Fundamental and Applied Toxicology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1-40, 1981-97. For publisher information, see TOSCF2
FCTXAV Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. (London, UK) V.1-19, 1963-81. For publisher information, see FCTOD7.
FEREAC Federal Register. (U.S. Government Printing Office, Supt. of Documents, Washington, DC 20402) V.1- 1936-
GISAAA Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936-
JIHTAB Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. (Cambridge, MA) V.18-31, 1936-49. For publisher information, see AEHLAU.
MUREAV Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 1964-
NIOSH* National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Reports and Memoranda.
NRTXDN Neurotoxicology. (Intox Press, Inc., POB 34075, Little Rock, AR 72203) V.1- 1979-
NTIS** National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information.
RBREV* Status of Pesticides in Registration, Reregistration, and Special Review (Rainbow Report), Special Review and Reregistration Division Office of Pesticide Programs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M. Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, Spring 1998
SCCUR* Shell Chemical Company. Unpublished Report. (2401 Crow Canyon Rd., San Romon, CA 94583)
SHELL* Shell Chemical Company. (P.O. Box 4320, Houston, TX 77210)
TOLED5 Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 1977-
TXAPA9 Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959-
VCVGK* "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva, galogen I kislorod sodergashie organicheskie soedinenia". (Hazardous substances. Galogen and oxygen containing substances), Bandman A.L. et al., Chimia, 1994.

Used as an industrial chemical, solvent, emulsifier, in manufacture of plastics, resins

NIOSH PROFILE (PAINT AND ALLIED PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING), FIRL, 4/78

NIOSH PROFILE (SPRAY PAINTING), FIRL, 4/78

NIOSH PROFILE (PAINT AND ALLIED PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING), SRI, 2/7

RTECS Compound Description:
   Mutagen
   Reproductive Effector
   Human Data
   Hormone
   Primary Irritant

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