Key Points/Overview
Most cumene is used as a chemical intermediate in plastic manufacturing, making it a useful building-block chemical.
Apart from working in manufacturing, most people are unlikely to encounter this chemical outside of car exhaust and tobacco smoke.
Even though cumene does not appear to stay in the body for very long after exposure, proper ventilation and safety precautions should be maintained in workplaces to prevent temporary irritation and discomfort.
Uses & Benefits
A building-block chemical, almost all cumene (approximately 98 percent) is consumed as a chemical intermediate in the production of phenol and acetone, two chemicals that are widely used to make plastics.
Additionally, cumene in minor amounts is used as a solvent during the manufacture of paints, lacquers, and enamels. Cumene by itself is not generally sold for consumer use.
Safety Information
Human exposure to cumene primarily occurs at industrial workplaces that produce or use cumene. Occupational exposure concentrations during chemical manufacturing are reported to be low, as production and subsequent reactions of the chemical occur in closed systems.
To enhance employee safety, workers and employers should follow safe handling practices found on the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, which may include wearing protective clothing, respirators, gloves and safety goggles. Moreover, workplaces where cumene is present should be well-ventilated to minimize the potential for worker exposure. A safe workplace airborne concentration for cumene has been established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®). The U.S. Occupational Safety & Heath Administration (OSHA) has additional information on cumene exposure.
Data from studies conducted with human volunteers indicate that cumene can be absorbed into the body through inhalation, but is rapidly metabolized and excreted, with no evidence of long-term retention in the body.
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