INFORMATION REGARDING  2-PENTANONE, 4-HYDROXY-4-METHYL (CAS) $$ DIACELONE AND PAINT

Synonyms :

DIACETONALCOHOL (DUTCH)
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Synonyms :

DIACETONALCOOL (ITALIAN)
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Synonyms :

DIACETONALKOHOL (GERMAN)
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Probable Routes of Human Exposure :

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 225,328 workers are potentially exposed to 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone in the USA(1). NIOSH (NOHS Survey 1972-1974) has statistically estimated that 978,524 workers are potentially exposed to the compound in the USA(2). The time weighted avg concn of the compound found in the breathing zone of workers in a screen printing plant in various job sites were as follows (avg of 12-19 samples each): 14 ppm in printing press, 3.5 ppm in automatic dryer, 12 ppm in manual drying, 2.8 ppm in paint mixing, and 6.8 ppm in screen wash(3). The concn were somewhat lower in the general air of most of the work areas than in the breathing zone air except in the automatic and manual dryer areas(3). The time weighted avg concn of the compound found in the general area of workers in the screen printing plant were as follows (avg of 6-10 samples each): 9 ppm in printing press area, 4.8 ppm in automatic dryer area, 12.5 ppm in manual drying area, 1.8 ppm in paint mixing area, and 4.5 ppm in screen wash area(3). The overall avg concn found in the general air of the plant was 3.2 ppm(3).
[(1) NIOSH; The National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES) (1983) (2) NIOSH; The National Occupational Hazard Survey (NOHS) (1974) (3) Samimi B; Amer Indust Hyg Assoc J 43: 43-8 (1982)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary :

4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone may be released to the environment as a result of its manufacture and use as a solvent, additive or synthetic intermediate for many materials. If released to soil, it will be expected to exhibit very high mobility, based upon the reported infinite solubility of the compound in water and an estimated Koc of 21. The compound may, therefore, leach through soil. Although no data were located regarding its biodegradation in environmental media, the compound may be subject to biodegradation in soil based upon results observed in laboratory biodegradation aqueous aerobic screening tests. It should not be subject to volatilization from moist near-surface soil based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.24X10-9 atm-cu m/mole. However, it may volatilize from dry near-surface soil and other dry surfaces based upon its vapor pressure of 1.71 mm Hg at 25 deg C. If released to water, it will not be expected to adsorb to sediment or suspended particulate matter or expected to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms based upon its estimated Koc and estimated BCF of 0.50, respectively. The compound may be subject to biodegradation in natural waters based upon results observed in laboratory aqueous aerobic biodegradation screening tests using acclimated mixed microbial cultures as inoculum. It should not be subject to volatilization from surface waters based upon the estimated Henry's Law constant. Hydrolysis should not be an important removal process since aliphatic alcohols and ketones (the two functional groups that 4-hydroxyl-4-methyl-2-pentanone contains) generally are resistant to hydrolysis. If released to the atmosphere, it can be expected to exist mainly in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere based upon its vapor pressure. The estimated atmospheric half-life for vapor phase reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals half-life is 12 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm. 4-Hydroxyl-4-methyl-2-pentanone may be susceptible to direct photolysis in the atmosphere based upon its possible absorption of light at wavelenghts > 290 nm. Based upon its high water solubility, the compound may be susceptible to removal from the atmosphere by washout. Human exposure will occur via ingestion of drinking water contaminated with the compound and ingestion of foods contaminated with the compound due to contact with acetone containing paints. (SRC)
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Food Survey Values :

4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone has been qualitatively detected in foodstuffs exposed to acetone: meat carcasses exposed to surfaces that were freshly painted with acetone containing paints and vegetables and seeds which were extracted with acetone(1).
[(1) Lande SS et al; Investigation of Selected Potential Environmental Contaminants: Haloalkyl Phosphates USEPA-560/2-76-007 NTIS PB257910 pp. 101, 126 (1976)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Probable Routes of Human Exposure :

Exposure to 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone will occur via ingestion of drinking water contaminated with the compound(1,2,SRC) and ingestion of foods contaminated with the compound due to contact with surfaces that were freshly painted with acetone containing paints(3,SRC).
[(1) Lucas SV; GC/MS Anal of Org in Drinking Water Concentrates and Advanced Treatment Concentrates Vol 1 USEPA-600/1-84-020a NTIS PB85-128221 p. 142 (1984) (2) Fielding M et al; Organic Pollutants in Drinking Water, TR-159 Water Res Cent p. 19 (1981) (3) Lande SS et al; Investigation of Selected Potential Environmental Contaminants: Haloalkyl Phosphates USEPA-560/2-76-007 NTIS PB257910 pp. 101, 126 (1976)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Analytic Laboratory Methods :

AN AUTOMATED ECG 900 GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY SYSTEM WAS USED TO MEASURE SOLVENT EXPOSURE IN PAINT FACTORY WHICH INCL DIACETONE ALCOHOL. ADVANTAGES OF AUTOMATED SYSTEM WERE 1) REDUCED MARGIN OF ERROR IN COLLECTION & ANALYSIS, 2) IMMEDIATE AVAIL OF RESULTS, 3) IMMEDIATE AVAIL OF EVALUATION OF SOLVENT-MIXT EXPOSURE RISK, & 4) A LARGE NUMBER OF SAMPLES ALLOWING BETTER STATISTICAL ANAL OF RESULTS.
[GAZZANIGA G ET AL; MED LAV 69 (3): 232-48 (1978)]**PEER REVIEWED**