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2-Pentanone
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
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 ppmBasis 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.