Acetone, a colorless liquid also known as Propanone, is a solvent used in manufacture of plastics and other industrial products. Acetone may also be used to a limited extent in household products, including cosmetics and personal care products, where its most frequent application would be in the formulation of nail polish removers. Acetone occurs naturally in the human body as a byproduct of metabolism.
Uses & Benefits
Acetone is a primary ingredient in many nail polish removers. It breaks down nail polish, making it easy to remove with a cotton swab or cloth. It is widely used because it can easily mix with water and evaporates quickly in the air.
Acetone is widely used in the textile industry for degreasing wool and degumming silk.
As a solvent, acetone is frequently incorporated in solvent systems or “blends,” used in the formulation of lacquers for automotive and furniture finishes. Acetone also may be used to reduce the viscosity of lacquer solutions.
Safety Information
Acetone safety
Acetone has been extensively studied and is generally recognized to have low acute and chronic toxicity.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined acetone is safe for use as an indirect food additive in adhesives and food-contact coatings and is regarded as a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substance at certain concentrations.
Acetone has undergone a comprehensive review under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). The objective of VCCEP was to ensure that adequate toxicity and exposure information was available to assess potential risks to children. This VCCEP review of acetone included a hazard assessment, an exposure assessment and a risk characterization.
Acetone has undergone regulatory and scientific evaluations under the European Chemical Agency REACH program, the World Health Organization (WHO) International Programme on Chemical Safety, and EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment program.
In a draft screening assessment for health and environmental effects, Environment Canada identified no critical health effects from exposures expected to occur from occasional, intermittent use of certain products containing acetone.
The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) sets safe workplace exposure limits. Workplaces where acetone is used, such as nail salons, can keep exposure levels below safety levels by using proper ventilation and following manufacturer’s instructions.
Hazards of acetone
Acetone is highly flammable but is generally recognized to have low acute and chronic toxicity. If inhaled, acetone could cause a sore throat or cough.
Answering Questions
What is acetone used for?
Acetone is commonly used as a solvent to manufacture plastics and other industrial products. Acetone may also be used to a limited extent in household products, including cosmetics and personal care products, where its most frequent application would be in the formulation of nail polish removers.
What has acetone in it?
Acetone occurs naturally in the human body as a byproduct of metabolism. Acetone is also a primary ingredient in many nail polish removers. As a solvent, acetone is frequently incorporated in other solvent systems or “blends,” used in the formulation of lacquers for automotive and furniture finishes, for example.
What is pure acetone?
In chemistry, a pure chemical compound is a chemical substance which contains only one substance and a particular set of molecules or ions. Pure acetone contains only the molecules or ions of acetone.
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