Acetone exposure can cause mild effects, but high levels can lead to skin and throat irritation, dizziness, and nausea. Chronic exposure can result in respiratory illness and loss of strength. Acetone is highly flammable and can cause burns. Natural production of acetone in the body clears up within 24 hours, but ingestion can cause intestinal irritation. Repeated topical exposure can cause skin dryness and cracking. Acetone does not pose a significant risk to the liver and kidneys, and studies do not indicate an increased risk of cancer. Burning acetone can cause throat and lung irritation, and unclean combustion can create cancer and reproductive health risks.
The effects of acetone exposure are usually mild, unless people are exposed to more than 500 parts per million in the air. Research indicates that people with high levels of exposure may experience skin and throat irritation, along with dizziness and nausea. Chronic exposure, such as might occur in a workplace with poorly controlled chemicals, can contribute to respiratory illness and loss of strength over time. It’s also highly flammable, which poses a risk of burns if people set it on fire or work with acetone near an open flame.
Some acetone is produced naturally in the body as a byproduct of metabolism. When people inhale acetone or absorb it through the skin, the normal routes of exposure, it typically clears up within 24 hours. Ingestion of acetone can cause intestinal irritation which can lead to diarrhea and stomach cramps. These effects of acetone resolve when people pass the chemical.
Low exposures generally cause no effects. At higher levels, side effects of acetone can include runny mouth and nose, throat irritation, skin irritation, and nausea. Some people report feelings of dizziness or high levels of irritability. Indoor workers who fill rapidly with acetone have experienced delirium and a state of confusion due to unusually high exposure. Chronic exposure to such environments can be potentially dangerous.
Repeated episodes of topical exposure can cause skin dryness and cracking, resulting in irritation. The effects of acetone may also concern people who regularly inhale the chemical, as it could damage their lungs. It can also interact with other chemicals in the environment. These reactions can intensify the adverse effects on the liver and kidneys that may be caused by these drugs, although acetone alone does not pose a significant risk to these organs.
Studies do not indicate an increased risk of cancer with exposure to acetone. The reproductive health effects of acetone appear to be of a mixed nature. Some research shows it can cause sperm to become distorted and could be linked to birth defects, while others don’t support these findings.
People exposed to burning acetone, whether from an accident or when it is used as a fuel additive, may experience throat and lung irritation. Unclean combustion can also result in large numbers of combustion by-products, which can increase irritation and have the potential to create cancer and reproductive health risks. There is also a risk of burns if the fire is not properly controlled.
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