2-Butanone

RTECS #

EL6475000

CAS #

78-93-3
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

December 2018

Molecular Weight

72.12

Molecular Formula

C₄H₈O

Synonyms

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

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /human	350 ppm		JIHTAB 25,282,1943
eye /rabbit	80 mg		TXAPA9 19,276,1971
skin /rabbit	500 mg/24H	moderate	JIHTAB 25,282,1943
skin /rabbit	402 mg/24H	mild	TXAPA9 19,276,1971
skin /rabbit	14 mg/24H open irritation test	mild	AIHAAP 23,95,1962

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction	/Saccharomyes cerevisiae	33800 ppm	MUREAV 149,339,1985

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	3000 ppm/7H (6-15D 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	1000 ppm/7H (6-15D 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/mouse	3000 ppm/7H (6-15D pregnant)	Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus)	FAATDF 16,742,1991
inhalation/rat	2900 mg/m³ (6-10D 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
inhalation/mouse	3000 ppm (6-15D 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	2000 ppm (6-20D pregnant)	Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus)	FCTOD7 44,1287,2006

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, liver tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 260 mmol/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell protein synthesis	TIVIEQ 3,189,1989
In Vitro/Rabbit, ocular	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 5 pph/5M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 25,1425,2011
inhalation/cat	lowest published toxic concentration: 25000 mg/m³	Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of salivary glands	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/cat	lowest published toxic concentration: 50000 mg/m³	Eye: Conjunctiva irritation	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 97300 mg/m³/30M	Behavioral: Ataxia	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/guinea pig	Lowest published lethal concentration: 97300 mg/m³/1H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema Liver: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 30000 mg/m³/2M	Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 30000 mg/m³/4H	Behavioral: General anesthetic Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema Liver: Other changes	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppm/5M	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	JIHTAB 25,282,1943
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 1000 mg/m³	Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	VCVGK* -,417,1994
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 10 ppm/4H	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		GISAAA 51(5),61,1986
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 32 gm/m³/4H		CUTOEX 1,47,1993
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 25000 mg/m³/2H	Behavioral: General anesthetic Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema Liver: Other changes	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/mouse	Lowest published lethal concentration: 40000 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: 4000 ppm/6M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	TOLED5 9,137,1981
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 32 mg/m³		ENTOX* -,77,2005
inhalation/rabbit	lowest published toxic concentration: 1250 mg/m³	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve	VCVGK* -,417,1984
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 23500 mg/m³/8H		AIHAAP 20,364,1959
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 23500 mg/m³		ENTOX* -,77,2005
intraperitoneal/guinea pig	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2 gm/kg		ENTOX* -,77,2005
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		ENTOX* -,77,2005
intraperitoneal/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 361 mg/kg	Behavioral: Anticonvulsant	BJPCBM 158,872,2009
intraperitoneal/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 607 mg/kg		ENTOX* -,77,2005
oral/human	lowest published lethal dose: 714.3 mg/kg		VCVGK* -,417,1994
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 3000 mg/kg		VCVGK* -,417,1984
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2737 mg/kg		ENTOX* -,77,2005
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 6480 mg/kg		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/m³/12H/24W- intermittent	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve	VCVGK* -,418,1994
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 5000 ppm/6H/90D- 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/7H/7D- intermittent	Liver: Liver function tests impaired	TXAPA9 41,285,1977
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 4000 ppm/8D- intermittent	Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	FCTOD7 44,1287,2006
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 3000 ppm/15D- intermittent	Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	FCTOD7 44,1287,2006
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 3000 ppm/15D- intermittent	Liver: Changes in liver weight	FCTOD7 44,1287,2006
inhalation/woman	lowest published toxic concentration: 61 mg/m³/169W- intermittent	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Sensory change involving peripheral nerve Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve	VCVGK* -,418,1994
subcutaneous/cat	lowest published toxic dose: 55500 mg/kg/37W- 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;short term exposure limit 300 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ECIET* (3),-,1983
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NTIS** DE89-563
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 127,111,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 128,99,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 140-141,261,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,77,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 25,192,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 659,93,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,577,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,649,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NCLNA* 16,503,1998
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NTAPM* -,629,1995
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NTAPM* -,727,1995
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,170,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TIVIEQ 36,105,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		RTOPDW 54,247,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		RTOPDW 59,364,2011

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 Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 150 ppm (445 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 300 ppm (890 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 100 ppm (295 mg/m³);KZW 200 ppm (590 mg/m³), skin, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 200 ppm(600 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 300 ppm(900 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 50 ppm (145 mg/m³), skin, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 600 mg/m³ (200 ppm);short term exposure limit 900 mg/m³ (300 ppm), JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	short term exposure limit 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 200 ppm (600 mg/m³), VLE 300 ppm (900 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 200 ppm (600 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 600 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 900 mg/m³, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 50 ppm (145 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 300 ppm (900 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
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-JAPAN	Occupational Exposure Limit 200 ppm (590 mg/m³), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 300 ppm (885 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 300 ppm (885 mg/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 150 ppm (445 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 300 ppm (890 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 75 ppm (220 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 300 ppm (885 mg/m³), JUL2005
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 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 400 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 50 ppm (150 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	ceiling concentration 200 ppm (590 mg/m³), skin, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 590 mg/m³, Skin, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³), JAN1993
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);short term exposure limit 300 ppm (899 mg/m³), skin, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO METHYL ETHYL KETONE-air	10H time-weighted average 200 ppm;short term exposure limit 300 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 13980; Number of Industries 318; Total Number of Facilities 87227; Number of Occupations 208; Total Number of Employees Exposed 1447456; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 245372
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 13980; Number of Industries 319; Total Number of Facilities 64013; Number of Occupations 177; Total Number of Employees Exposed 801382

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 8(a) PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT INFORMATION, FINAL RULE	FEREAC 47,26992,82
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
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
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #1004
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #84

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health