METHYL ETHYL KETONE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Emergency Overview Appearance: liquid,, Colorless CAUTION! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. MAY AFFECT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAUSING DIZZINESS, HEADACHE OR NAUSEA. MAY BE HARMFUL IF INHALED OR SWALLOWED. MAY CAUSE EYE, SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT IRRITATION. PROLONGED OR REPEATED CONTACT MAY DRY SKIN, CAUSE IRRITATION AND BURNS.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, Skin absorption, Skin contact, Eye Contact, Ingestion Eye contact Can cause eye irritation. Symptoms include stinging, tearing, redness, and swelling of eyes. Skin contact Can cause skin irritation. Symptoms may include redness and burning of skin, and other skin damage. Prolonged or repeated contact may dry the skin. Symptoms may include redness, burning, and drying and cracking of skin, skin burns, and other skin damage. Ingestion Swallowing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Swallowing large amounts may be harmful. This material can get into the lungs during swallowing or vomiting. This results in lung inflammation and other lung injury. Inhalation Breathing of vapor or mist is possible. Breathing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Breathing large amounts may be harmful. Symptoms are not expected at air concentrations below the recommended exposure limits, if applicable (see Section 8.).

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Preexisting disorders of the following organs (or organ systems) may be aggravated by exposure to this material:, Skin, lung (for example, asthma-like conditions) Symptoms Signs and symptoms of exposure to this material through breathing, swallowing, and/or passage of the material through the skin may include:, stomach or intestinal upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), irritation (nose, throat, airways), central nervous system depression (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, nausea, headache, unconsciousness) Target Organs Based on animal studies, exposure to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) increases the onset of peripheral neuropathy caused by exposure to methyl butyl ketone (MBK), and/or n-hexane, and/or ethyl butylketone. MEK alone has not been shown to cause peripheral neuropathy., Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in laboratory animals:, mild, reversible liver effects, mild, reversible kidney effects Carcinogenicity Based on the available information, this material cannot be classified with regard to carcinogenicity. This material is not listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), or the Occupational Safety and Health