Acetone

Endpoint summary

Additional information

In the sludge from the stp of the Emscher Genossenschaft receiving the wastewater of INEOS Phenol a concentration of 1.5 mg acetone/kg ww was determined (one sample collected 2010).

Further recent monitoring data are not available. Due to regulation implementation in industrialized countries, the general environmental contamination levels have decreased. Therefore, monitoring data obtained before 2000 have to be taken with caution. Most of the available studies are referring to atmospheric concentrations.
Acetone concentrations in remote areas (Pt Barrow, Alaska, USA, 1967) are reported for 0.72 – 6.96 µg/m³. At rural sites in the USA, acetone concentrations were determined for 0.72 – 2.16 µg/m³in 1971. Mean Concentrations at rural sites (Arizona, USA, 1982) were found to be 6.2 µg /m³(SD: ± 0.8). Somewhat higher mean concentrations of 28.8 µg/m³(SD: ± 4) were found at urban sites (Tucson,Arizona,USA). In at urban sites in Sweden (Stockholm, 1982/83) mean concentrations of acetone in air were in the same order of magnitude 9.7 — 46.6 µg/m³.There was no statistically significant correlation with traffic exhaust components as CO and benzene. Acetone was found in high concentrations in the air of Stockholm. Possible sources other than vehicle exhaust as solvent use, photochemical oxidation or biogenic sources were discussed. Mean ambient air concentrations in Northern Italy in 1983 – 1984 were found to be 39 µg/m³(indoor, range: 3 – 157 µg/m³) and 6 µg/m³(outdoor, range: <2 – 16 µg/m³).

For the fresh water there are no background concentrations available. In the USA some studies were performed at contaminated sites. In a contaminated well 3 µg/L acetone were determined. 0.56 – 600 mg/L acetone was measured in landfill leachate. 0.2 — 0.7 µg/L acetone was found in six drinking water wells in the vicinity of a solid waste landfill. In the landfill leachate 43700 µg/L acetone was detected.
In contrast background concentrationsin sea water are available. Acetone concentrations were determined for 0.014 — 0.052 mg/L (Straits of Florida) and 0.018 — 0.053 mg/L (Eastern Mediterranean) acetone.

2.4 – 44 mg/kg d.w. acetone was determined in soils (Colorado, USA, 1978) by a purge and trap method. Acetone occurred in all soils tested. The addition of lime increased emission of acetone in the three acid soils tested.

According to handbook data acetone is a normal micro component in blood and urine, a minor constituent in pyroligneous acid and an oxidation product of alcohols and humic substances. In Cigarette smoke 2640 mg/m³and gasoline exhaust (partly propionaldehyde) 5.52 – 33.6 mg/m³were determined.

There are some other studies available that are assigned to be not valid for assessment, because of some inconsistency in the test system and possible contamination with acetone.