health and safety plan solid waste management unit assessment

METHYL ETHYL KETONE 41-16
41.3.4 Hazard Assessment
Methyl ethyl ketone exhibits a low toxicity subsequent to acute
and chronic exposures. The oral LD,, value for rats is in the 2.7 to
3.6 g/kg range (47,13); the inhalation LC,, for mice for a two hour
exposure is 40,000 mg/xxG (47). At high concentrations (e.g., 10% in
air) , methyl ethyl ketone can induce narcosis (1028) but low level
chronic exposure (2500 ppm for 90 days) produced no adverse effects in
rats (1008).
Exposure to methyl ethyl ketone can produce local irritation of
the eyes, upper respiratory tract and skin (1016.1031,1032). If
splashed into. the eyes, painful irritation and cornea1 injury may
result (1028). Direct skin contact may produce dermatitis and defat
the skin (1032,1009). Short-term human exposure to methyl ethyl ketone
can produce headache, eye and throat irritation.
Studies in both humans and animals indicate that methyl ethyl
ketone potentiates (i.e., shortens the time of onset) of peripheral
neuropathy caused by either n-hexane or methyl n-butyl ketone. Methyl
ethyl ketone itself does not induce peripheral neuropathy
(1002,1029,1030).
The reproductive, mutagenic and carcinogenic activity of methyl
ethyl ketone have not been thoroughly investigated and require further
research. Female rats exposed via inhalation to over 1000 ppm methyl
ethyl ketone resulted in fetotoxic effects. A low incidence of
malformations was observed in one study (1003) but could not be
duplicated using an identical experimental design (1005). suggesting
that methyl ethyl ketone produces minor fetotoxic effects but is not a
teratogen in rats.
Conflicting data are available regarding the mutagenicity of
methyl ethyl ketone. Negative results were obtained in an Ames assay
(1001) , a marginally positive response at best in a Chinese V-79
hamster cell test (1013) and a strongly positive induction of
aneuploidy in a yeast test (1011). There are no data available on the
carcinogenic activity of methyl ethyl ketone.
41.4 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS
Determination of the concentration of methyl ethyl ketone in soil
and water requires collection of a representative field sample and
laboratory an&ysis. Due to the volatility of methyl ethyl ketone,
care is required to prevent losses during sample collection and
storage. Soil and water samples are collected in airtight containers
with no headspace; analysis should be completed within 14 days of
sampling. In addition to the targeted samples, quality assurance
samples such as field blanks, duplicates, and spiked matrices should be
included in the analytical program.
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