2-Pentanone

CAS number: 107–87–9

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 water-white liquid with a characteristic acetone-like 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
Rat	Smyth et al. 1962	LC17: 2,000	-----	4 hr	4,000 ppm (2.0)	400 ppm
Rat	Smyth et al. 1962	LC100: 4,000	-----	4 hr	8,000 ppm (2.0)	800 ppm
G. pig	Yant et al. 1936	-----	50,000	50 min	60,000 ppm (1.2)	6,000 ppm
G. pig	Yant 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
Rat	Clayton and Clayton 1982	oral	1,600	-----	3,128 ppm	313 ppm
Mouse	Clayton 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 2-pentanone 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]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VI. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 23:95-107.

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 51:392-399.