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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Butyl ethyl ketone; 3-Heptanone

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1100

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 106-35-4

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: MJ5250000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook [4 MB PDF, 392 pages]: 1224 127

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethyl Butyl Ketone: Physical description, chemical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits and Health Effects

Exposure Limit

Limit Values

HE Codes

Health Factors and Target Organs

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - General Industry
See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1

50 ppm
(230 mg/m3)
TWA

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye and skin irritation

OSHA PEL - Construction Industry
See 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A

50 ppm
(230 mg/m3)
TWA

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye and skin irritation

OSHA PEL - Shipyard Employment
See 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards

50 ppm
(230 mg/m3)
TWA

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye and skin irritation

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

50 ppm
(230 mg/m3)
TWA

HE7

Headaches, dizziness, or unconsciousness; central nervous system depression

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye, nose, skin, throat, and lung irritation

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (2001)

50 ppm
(234 mg/m3)
TWA

75 ppm
(350 mg/m3)
STEL

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye and skin irritation

CAL/OSHA PELs

50 ppm
(230 mg/m3) TWA

75 ppm
(345 mg/m3) STEL

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Eye Irritation

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): Not established

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Inhalation Minimal Risk Level (MRL): Not established

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration: 1,000 ppm

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

  1. Ethyl butyl ketone is flammable (NIOSH/IPCS 1996) and forms an explosive mixture with air (Pohanish 2002).
  2. The ACGIH documentation for TLV notes that the limit was set to minimize the potential for narcosis and irritation largely by analogy to the other ketones. The toxicology information was characterized as limited.

Date Last Revised: 11/16/2012

Literature Basis:

  • ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethyl Butyl Ketone. 2001.
  • California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board: Initial [64 KB PDF, 12 pages] and Final [76 KB PDF, 13 pages] Statement of Reasons. November 3, 2004.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethyl Butyl Ketone. In Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, pp. 1062-1064, 2002.
  • NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Card - Ethyl n-Butyl Ketone. March 28, 1996.
  • NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Ethyl Butyl Ketone. September 1978.

Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

  • sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
    analytical solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Methanol
    maximum volume: 25 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1301)
    method classification: Partially Validated

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