Chemical Sampling Information
	Methyl (n-amyl) ketone
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Amyl methyl ketone; n-Amyl methyl ketone; 2-Heptanone; MAK OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1675 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 110-43-0 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: MJ5075000 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1110 127 [27 KB, PDF] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Methyl (n-amyl) ketone: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 100 ppm, 465 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 100 ppm, 465 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 100 ppm, 465 mg/m3 TWA American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 50 ppm, 233 mg/m3 TWA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 100 ppm, 465 mg/m3 TWA Health Factors NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 800 ppm Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes; cough, headache; dizziness, narcosis, coma; dry skin, dermatitis. Health Effects: Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Skin---Moderate (HE15); Narcosis (HE8) Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS, peripheral nervous system Notes: Above 48ºC, explosive vapor/air mixtures may be formed. Methyl n-amyl ketone (2-heptanone) is listed among FDA’s “food additives permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption” (21 CFR 172.515), and it occurs naturally in certain foods (e.g., beer, white bread, butter, various cheeses and potato chips). The concentration of methyl n-amyl ketone causing a 50% decrease in the respiratory rate of mice (a measure of sensory irritation) was reported to be 895 ppm. Toxicity studies in rats and monkeys exposed to methyl n-amyl ketone by inhalation 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 218 exposure days indicated a lack of toxicity at concentrations up to 1025 ppm. Among twelve methyl-aliphatic ketones tested for anesthetic potency in mice, methyl n-amyl ketone was the most potent (ED50 ~500 mg/kg, i.p.). Described as having an odor type of “cheesy,” the mechanism of action of methyl n-amyl ketone as a pheromone at odorant receptors in mice has been investigated Methyl n-amyl ketone (2-heptanone) was one of the metabolites of n-heptane found in the urine of employees exposed to heptane in shoe and tire factories. Date Last Revised: 02/12/2007 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Methyl (n-amyl) ketone. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Methyl n-amyl ketone. De Ceaurriz, J., Micillino, J.C., Marignac, B., Bonnet, P., Muller, J. and Guenier, J.P.: Quantitative evaluation of sensory irritating and neurobehavioral properties of aliphatic ketones in mice. Food Chem. Toxicol. 22(7): 545-549, 1984. Lynch, D.W., et al.: Inhalation toxicity of methyl n-amyl ketone (2-heptanone) in rats and monkeys. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 58(3): 341-352, 1981. Perbellini, L., Brugnone, F., Cocheo, V., De Rosa, E. and Bartolucci, G.B.: Identification of the n-heptane metabolites in rat and human urine. Arch. Toxicol. 58(4): 229-234, 1986. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Methyl n-Amyl Ketone. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1527-1528. Tanii, H.: Anesthetic activity of monoketones in mice: relationship to hydrophobicity and in vivo effects on Na+/K+-ATPase activity and membrane fluidity. Toxicol. Lett. 85(1): 41-47, 1996. Wang, Z., Balet Sindreu, C., Li, V., Nudelman, A., Chan, G.C. and Storm, D.R.: Pheromonal detection in male mice depends on signaling through the type 3 adenylyl cyclase in the main olfactory epithelium. J. Neurosci. 26(28): 7375-7379, 2006. 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: Fully Validated All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.