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Ethyl butyl ketone

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General Description
    Synonyms: Butyl ethyl ketone; 3-Heptanone

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1100

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 106-35-4

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: MJ5250000

    Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1224 127 [27 KB, PDF]

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Ethyl butyl ketone: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 50 ppm, 230 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 50 ppm, 230 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 50 ppm, 230 mg/m3 TWA

    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 50 ppm, 234 mg/m3 TWA; 75 ppm, 350 mg/m3 STEL

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 50 ppm, 230 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
    NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 1,000 ppm

    Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes; cough, headache; dizziness, narcosis, coma; dry skin, dermatitis.

    Health Effects: Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16); Narcosis (HE8)

    Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS

    Notes:
    1. Above 46ºC, explosive vapor/air mixtures may be formed.
    2. Ethyl butyl ketone (3-heptanone) is listed among FDA’s “food additives permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption” (21 CFR 172.515).
    3. Ethyl butyl ketone (3-heptanone) was one of the metabolites of n-heptane found in the urine of employees exposed to heptane in shoe and tire factories. It also was identified as one of the urinary metabolites of the drug, sodium valproate, in rats.
    4. Ethyl butyl ketone can be metabolized to the neurotoxin 2,5-heptanedione, but the amount produced in rats (or produced in humans from occupational exposure to heptane) is apparently too small to pose a significant health hazard.

    Date Last Revised: 02/12/2007

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ethyl butyl ketone.
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Ethyl n-butyl ketone.
    • Matsumoto, I., Kuhara, T. and Yoshino, M.: Metabolism of branched medium chain length fatty acid. II. ß-oxidation of sodium dipropylacetate in rats. Biomed. Mass Spectrom. 3(5): 235-240, 1976.
    • O’Donoghue, J.L., Krasavage, W.J., DiVincenzo, G.D. and Katz, G.V.: Further studies on ketone neurotoxicity and interactions. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 72(2): 201-209, 1984.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethyl Butyl Ketone. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1062-1064.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
      analytical solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Methanol
      maximum volume: 25 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min
      current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
      method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1301)
      method classification: Partially Validated

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