An official website of the United States government
Diacetone alcohol
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 123–42–2
NIOSH REL: 50 ppm (240 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 50 ppm (240 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 50 ppm (238 mg/m3) TWA
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a faint, minty odor.
LEL:. . 1.8% (10% LEL, 1,800 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 2,100 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The only acute inhalation toxicity data available on which to base an IDLH for diacetone alcohol is the statement by Patty [1963] that animals exposed for 1 to 3 hours to 2,100 ppm exhibited restlessness, irritation of the membranes, excitement, and later somnolence [Gross as cited by Lehmann and Flury 1943]. The chosen IDLH is obviously conservative.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatRabbit
Mouse |
Smyth and Carpenter 1948Walton et al. 1928
Wenzel and Koff 1956 |
oraloral
oral |
4,0004,653
3,950 |
———-
—– |
5,797 ppm6,743 ppm
5,725 ppm |
580 ppm674 ppm
573 ppm |
Other animal data: Animals exposed for 1 to 3 hours to 2,100 ppm exhibited restlessness, irritation of the membranes, excitement, and later, somnolence [Lehmann and Flury 1943].
Human data: It has been reported that eye irritation appeared in volunteers exposed for 15 minutes at 100 ppm [Silverman et al. 1946].
| Revised IDLH: 1,800 ppm (LEL)Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Lehmann and Flury 1943], a value of about 2,000 ppm would have been appropriate. However, the revised IDLH for diacetone alcohol is 1,800 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower explosive limit of 1.8%). |
REFERENCES:
1. Gross E [?]. Unpublished. [From Lehmann KB, Flury F, eds. [1943]. Toxicology and hygiene of industrial solvents. Translated by E. King and H.F. Smyth, Jr. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company, pp. 245246.]
2. Lehmann KB, Flury F, eds. [1943]. Toxicology and hygiene of industrial solvents. Translated by E. King and H.F. Smyth, Jr. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company, pp. 245246.
3. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1752.
4. Silverman L, Schulte HF, First WW [1946]. Further studies on sensory response to certain industrial solvent vapors. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28:262268.
5. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP [1948]. Further experience with the rangefinding test in the industrial toxicology laboratory. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30(1):6368.
6. Walton DC, Kehr EF, Louvenhart AS [1928]. A comparison of the pharmacological action of diacetone alcohol and acetone. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 33:175183.
7. Wenzel DG, Koff GY [1956]. Anticonvulsant properties of some alkyldiols, alkyldiones and related compounds. J Am Pharm Assoc, Scientific Edition 45(10):669672.