IRIS Toxicological Review of Acetone (External Review Draft)
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Abstract
and adhesives, and is the primary ingredient in most commercial nail polish removers. It is also listed as a contaminant on more than 560 National Priority List Superfund sites.
Acetone's levels of production and variety of uses, coupled with it's volatility and water solubility, result in a high potential for exposure to acetone.
The draft Toxicological Review for Acetone (ToxR) identifies blood and kidney effects as critical effects, with a reference dose (RfD) of 0.3 mg/kg/d. The draft ToxR provides a new RfD based on a drinking water study to replace
a lower RfD derived from a gavage study. The draft ToxR does not propose a reference concentration (RfC) and proposes a cancer weight-of-evidence determination of class D not
classifiable as to human carcinogenicity under the Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (1986). Both determinations are consistent with the existing IRIS assessment. The cancer weight of evidence under the Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (1996) is "cannot be determined."
Acetone is produced endogenously in the body. Commercially, acetone is used as a solvent and as a synthetic intermediate. It is used as a solvent for high production volume coatings and adhesives, and is the primary ingredient in most commercial nail polish removers. EPA's assessment of the carcinogenic potential and noncancer effects of acetone was entered on IRIS in the late 1980's. The IRIS Program prepared an update of the assessment for acetone, which incorporated health effects information published since the last assessment was prepared, as well as new risk assessment methods. The IRIS assessment for acetone consists of a Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary. The Toxicological Review was a critical review of the physicochemical and toxicokinetic properties of the chemical; and its toxicity in humans and experimental systems. The assessment presents reference values for the noncancer effects of acetone (RfD and RfC), where supported by available data, and a cancer assessment. The Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary was subject to internal peer consultation, Agency review, and external peer review. The final product reflects the Agency's consensus opinion on the toxicity of acetone.
Impact/Purpose
Additional Information
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.
- Toxicological Review of Acetone (PDF) (51 pp, 190 KB, about PDF)
- IRIS Summary - Acetone (PDF) (15 pp, 34 KB, about PDF)