Methyl ethyl ketone /

Methyl ethyl ketone / published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization. - Geneva : World Health Organization, 1993. - 161 p. - Environmental health criteria ; 143 .

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to methyl ethyl ketone. Because of its excellent properties as a solvent, methyl ethyl ketone is widely used in the application of protective coatings and adhesives, in magnetic tape production, in the dewaxing of lubricating oil, and in food processing. Methyl ethyl ketone is also a common ingredient in consumer products such as varnishes and glues. Intentional abuse of solvent mixtures containing this chemical is of particular public health concern, since injuries can be severe, permanently disabling, and even fatal. Although methyl ethyl ketone is a natural component of many foods, the report notes that concentrations are consistently low. Other sources of population exposure include drinking-water, tobacco smoke, and volatilization from building materials and consumer products. The report concludes that methyl ethyl ketone does not pose a significant threat to the environment except in cases of major spills or discharges. The remaining sections concentrate on evidence, from animal studies, in vitro test systems, and observations in humans, of the toxic effects of this chemical. Evidence from several outbreaks of poisoning linked to solvent abuse is also considered. The report concludes that the principal toxic effects observed with methyl ethyl ketone exposure stem from its well-documented ability to potentiate the toxicity of two classes of organic solvents: unbranched aliphatic hexacarbons and haloalkanes. While methyl ethyl ketone on its own appears to be a relatively safe organic solvent, chronic co-exposure with these other organic solvents represents a significant potential occupational hazard. A concluding section urges industries to take all precautions necessary to ensure that workers are not exposed to both methyl ethyl ketone and solvents whose toxicity is potentiated by this chemical.


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WHODOC

9241571438


Butanones--adverse effects--toxicity.
Occupational exposure.

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