Methyl (n-amyl) ketone
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 110–43–0
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (465 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (465 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 50 ppm (233 mg/m3) TWA
Description of substance: Colorless to white liquid with a banana-like, fruity odor.
LEL(@151°F): 1.1% (10% LEL(@151°F), 1,100 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 4,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that 2,000 ppm was strongly narcotic and 4,800 ppm caused narcosis and death in guinea pigs in 4 to 8 hours [Specht et al. 1940].
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 | Clayton & Clayton 1981 | ----- | 4,000 | 4 hr | 8,000 ppm (2.0) | 800 ppm |
| G. pig | Specht et al. 1940 | ----- | 2,000 | 14.8 hr | 6,180 ppm (3.09) | 618 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50 (mg/kg) |
LDLo (mg/kg) |
Adjusted LD | Derived value |
| Rat | Smyth et al. 1962 | oral | 1,670 | ----- | 2,461 ppm | 246 ppm |
| Mouse | Srepel & Akacic 1962 | oral | 730 | ----- | 1,076 ppm | 108 ppm |
Other animal data: Exposures to guinea pigs lasting 4-8 hours were irritating to the mucous membranes at 1,500 ppm, strongly narcotic at 2,000 ppm, and caused narcosis and death at 4,800 ppm [Specht et al. 1940].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 800 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for methyl (n-amyl) ketone is 800 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Clayton and Clayton 1981]. |
REFERENCES:
1. Clayton GD, Clayton FE, eds. [1981]. Patty’s industrial hygiene and toxicology. 3rd rev. ed. Vol. 2C. Toxicology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 4757.
2. Patty FA, ed. [1063]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1740.
3. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA [1962]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VI. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 23:95-107.
4. Specht H, Miller JW, Valaer PJ, Sayers RR [1940]. Acute response of guinea pigs to the inhalation of ketone vapors. NIH Bulletin 176:1-66.
5. Srepel B, Akacic B [1962]. Ispitivanje anthelminti_kog djelovanja eteri_nih ulja roda Ruta. Acta Pharmaceut Jugo 12:79-86 (in Serbo-Croatian).