4-methylpent-3-en-2-one

Exposure related observations in humans: other data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

exposure-related observations in humans: other data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment but without detailed documentations

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Further studies on sensory response to certain industrial solvent vapors

Author:

Silverman L, Schulte HF, First MW

Year:

1946

Bibliographic source:

J Ind Hyg Toxicol., 28: 262-266

Reference 2

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Sensory Response to Certain Industrial Solvent Vapor

Author:

Nelson KW, Ege JF, Ross M, Woodman LE and Silverman L

Year:

1943

Bibliographic source:

J Ind Hyg Toxicol., 25, 282-285

Materials and methods

Endpoint addressed:

eye irritation

respiratory irritation

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Exposure of 12 male and 12 female test persons to mesityl oxide vapour in a concentration of 25 and 50 ppm for 15 minutes.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

4-methylpent-3-en-2-one

EC Number:

205-502-5

EC Name:

4-methylpent-3-en-2-one

Cas Number:

141-79-7

Molecular formula:

C6H10O

IUPAC Name:

4-methylpent-3-en-2-one

Details on test material:

Technical grade solvent supplied by the Shell Development Company, Emeryville, California

Method

Ethical approval:

not specified

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

The experimental procedure was similar to that described by Nelson et al., (1943). An average number of twelve subjects of both sexes were used for each solvent exposure. The procedure used previously was modified as follows: 1) The time of exposure was increased to fifteen minutes. This period permitted more accurate observation of olfactory fatigue and a better appraisal of increasing or decreasing irritation of mucous membranes. 2) During the 15 minute exposure period, motion pictures were shown te occupy the subjects' attention and divert their thoughts from the atmospheric contamination to which they were expose.

Results and discussion

Results:

A majority of subjects experienced some degree of eye irritation at 25 ppm and nasal irritation at 50 p.p.m. Twenty-five ppm is the highest concentration that a majority of our subjects believed would be satisfactory for an 8 hour day. Because eye irritation was evident in some subjects at 25 ppm, the sensory limit might be placed even lower than 25 ppm. At 50 ppm half of the subjects found the odor objectionable. One of the objectionable after effects of this solvent was the persistent unpleasant teste that rernained with many subjects for three to six hours after the exposure. Tests were made on newly prepared solvent and were duplicated with solvent that had been in storage for approximately four years. The older solvent had become somewhat discolored. Results, however, on both solvents were substantially the same.

Any other information on results incl. tables

SENSORY LIMITS OBTAINED ON SOLVENT VAPORS

Solvent	Highest concentration which majority of subjects estimated satisfactory for 8-hour exposure ppm	Concentration of vapour which irritated majority of subjects			Suggested maximum allowable concentrations ppm
		Eyes ppm	Nose ppm	Throat ppm
Mesityl oxide	25	25	50	>50	50

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

In testing sensory response of exposure to various organic vapors, Silverman et al. (1946) found that a majority of the 24 subjects experienced some degree of eye and nasal irritation 3 to 5 min after the start of a 15 -min exposure at 25 and 50 ppm (ca.100 and 205 mg/m3), respectively. One of the objectionable after-effects of this solvent was the persistent unpleasant taste that remained with many subjects for 3 to 6 hours after the exposure. Based on the unpleasant taste and nasal irritation at 50 ppm (ca. 205 mg/m3), the majority of the subjects suggested 25 ppm (ca. 100 mg/m3) to be the highest concentration that would be satisfactory for an 8-hour day.