Pentanoic Acid

Excerpt from ERG Guide 153 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide.

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention .

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Give one or two glasses of water to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

LC50 Daphnia magna (Water flea) 45 mg/L/48 hr; static /formulated product/

LC50 Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill) 5,000 mg/L/24 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/ /Na salt/

LC50 Pimephales promelas (Fathead minnow) >100 mg/L/1 hr, static

LC50 Pimephales promelas (Fathead minnow) >100 mg/L/24 hr, static

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for n-PENTANOIC ACID (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 140(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.39(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that n-pentanoic acid is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of n-pentanoic acid is 4.84(4), indicating that this compound will partially exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5). Volatilization of n-pentanoic acid from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given a Henry's Law constant of 4.72X10-7 atm-cu m/mole(6). n-Pentanoic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 1.96X10-1 mm Hg(7). n-Pentanoic acid is expected to be readily biodegradable in most environmental conditions based on several biodegradation tests where n-pentanoic acid reached 43%(8) to 68%(9) of its theoretical BODs in sewage inoculum after 5 days.

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 140(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.39(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that n-pentanoic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon a Henry's Law constant of 4.72X10-7 atm-cu m/mole(4). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 7(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(6), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). n-Pentanoic acid is expected to be readily biodegradable in most environmental conditions based on several biodegradation tests where n-pentanoic acid reached 43%(7) to 68%(8) of its theoretical BODs in sewage inoculum after 5 days.

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), n-pentanoic acid, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 1.96X10-1 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase n-pentanoic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 3.9 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 4.11X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3).

n-Pentanoic acid has been identified as a volatile component of roasted filberts(1), Parma ham(2), fried chicken flavor(3), bacon flavor(4), baked potato flavor(5), and raw beef(6). n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a volatile fatty acid occurring in dalieb fruit pulp at a concn of 5 mg/kg pulp(7). Pentanoic acid has been identified as a volatile flavor component of mutton, chicken, beef, and pork(8). n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a volatile component of microwave popcorn at a concn of 130 ug/kg(9). n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a volatile component of two commercial rice cakes at concns of 210 ppb and 270 ppb(10).

Burning sensation. Cough. Sore throat.

Redness. Pain. Skin burns.

Redness. Pain. Severe burns.

Burning sensation. Abdominal pain. Shock or collapse.

n-Pentanoic acid was identified in trench leachate from low-level radioactive waste disposal sites in Maxey Flats, KY and West Valley, NY at an average concn of 3.8 and 47 mg/L, respectively(1). n-Pentanoic acid was detected in raw and processed wastewater from the Lurgi-Process Plant in Sasolburg, South Africa at concns of 12 and 7 mg/L, respectively(2). n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a volatile component of kitchen waste exudate(3). n-Pentanoic acid was identified in the final effluent from the Los Angeles County wastewater treatment plant between Nov 1980 and August 1981 at a concn of 50 ug/L(4). Groundwater samples collected near an area known to be contaminated by wood-preserving chemicals in Pensacola, FL contained n-pentanoic acid at concns of 6.55, 1.53, and 0.51 mg/L 6.1, 3.3, and 5.8 m below the surface, respectively(5). n-Pentanoic acid was detected in groundwater from a landfill well near Norman, OK at an estimated concn of 1.1 ug/L(6). n-Pentanoic acid was detected in the acidic fraction of oil shale retort water at a concn of 210 mg/L(7). Groundwater samples collected 15.5 feet below the land surface near an area contaminated with gasoline contained n-pentanoic acid at a concn of 2 ug/L(8).

n-Pentanoic acid was detected in the leachate of a sanitary landfill located in Barcelona, Spain at an unreported concn(1). n-Pentanoic acid was identified in the effluent of a publicly owned treatment works facility located in an industrial area of NJ at an estimated concn of 8 ppb(2). n-Pentanoic acid was detected in: product water samples from an in situ coal gasification site in Hanna, WY at a concn of 1060 ppm; retort water from in situ oil shale processing in Rock Springs, WY at a concn of 5 ppm; and boiler blowdown water from in situ shale oil processing in DeBeque, CO at a concn of 4 ppm(3). Pentanoic acid was detected in condensate retort water and process retort water from the Occidental Oil Shale, Inc facility in Logan Wash, CO at concns of 0.3 and 110 mg/L, respectively(4). n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a byproduct of chlorine dioxide disinfection of drinking water at a pilot plant in Evansville, IN(5). n-Pentanoic acid was detected in primary and secondary effluents from four sewage treatment plants at concns ranging from 3.7 to 379 ug/L and 0.6 to 40 ug/L, respectively(6).

ONE OF VOLATILE ACIDS IDENTIFIED IN THE RAW SEWAGE IN HAIFA, ISRAEL WAS VALERIC ACID.

n-Pentanoic acid was detected in groundwater down-gradient from a crude oil spill in Bemidiji, MN from 1986-1990 at concentrations ranging from 0.009 to 0.326 uM(1). Samples were taken from distances ranging from 0-90 m downgradient from the spill(1). n-Pentanoic acid was extracted from oil-field wastewater samples from an oil processing facility located in California in concentrations ranging from 0.0009 mg/L to 1.37 mg/L(2).

The Koc of n-pentanoic acid is estimated as 140(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.39(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that n-pentanoic acid is expected to have high mobility in soil. In aqueous solution, n-pentanoic acid adsorbed 15.4 and 37.9% onto the clay minerals kaolinite and montmorillonite, respectively, after 144 hours at 22 °C(4). The pKa of n-pentanoic acid is 4.84(5), indicating that this compound will partially exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(6).

Pentanoic acid (CAS # 109-52-4) was evaluated for subchronic dermal toxicity in New Zealand White rabbits exposed to 0 or 500 mg/kg (in mineral oil solution) non-occluded applications upon abraded skin (3/5 males, 2/5 females) or shaved intact skin (3/5 females, 2/5 males) on 5 consecutive days/week for 2 weeks (10 total applications). One female died on the 7th day of treatment, exhibiting hypopnea, hypoactivity, diminished food consumption, and red anal discharge prior to death. Pharmacotoxic signs noted among survivors included diminished food consumption, nasal discharge, and vocalization upon handling. Without exception, the animals showed transient weight loss in the second week of treatment and worsening signs of dermal irritation including severe erythema, moderate to severe edema, necrosis with eschar, atonia, desquamation, and dermal fissuring. Eschar tissue exfoliated during the second week of treatment and all animals were free of any signs of toxicity by end of study. Upon necropsy, no increased incidence of gross pathological changes relative to controls were identified. Micropathological evaluation of the collective irritative eschar found epidermal hyperplasia, and hyperkeratosis, as well as diffuse and perifollicular dermal inflammation. Rabbits surviving 2-week post-treatment recovery demonstrated some persisting epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, but were otherwise free of irritative signs. No significant difference was noted in irritative responses on abraded or intact skin.

n-Pentanoic acid (CAS # 109-52-4) was evaluated for carcinogenic potential in adermal study of C3H/HeJ mice (50/group) administered interscapular applications of 50 mg/kg undiluted test substance twice weekly for 80 weeks. Severe dermal and systemic toxicity noted upon a 4th application was in excess of that observed during an initial pilot study and necessitated amendment of treatment and dermal doses were reduced to 25 mg/kg for the remainder of the study. Despite this change in protocol, decreased survival (10%) among the treated animals relative to controls (no treatment) lowered a final effective number of mice living long enough to develop treatment-related tumors. Depressed bodyweight gains (17%), and epilation, ulceration, and crustiness of the skin at treatment sites were also exhibited among treated mice. The condition of the treated skin further complicated gross recognition of dermal neoplasms. Seven of 12 treated animals demonstrating benign and/or malignant tumors were identified upon microscopic examination of treated dermis, while 5/12 were identified at twice daily examinations during the in-life portion of study. Observed neoplasms in treated mice were characterized as squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (4/4 mice), fibrosarcomas (6/6 mice), fibromas (5/3 mice) and a solitary incidence of keratoacanthoma, relative to one malignant squamous cell carcinoma of the skin noted in a control animal. An average latent period for 5/12 neoplasms observed in living mice was 61.8 weeks. Due to the profound systemic toxicity, 19/50 treated mice also underwent histologic evaluation of all major visceral organs and the brain. No additional gross pathology or microscopic findings in excess of controls was documented.

THE ACID IS NOT COMMON IN NATURE. REPORTED (AS THE CORRESPONDING ESTER) FOUND IN ESSENTIAL OIL OF BORONIA ANEMONIFOLIA, IN PINEAPPLE FRUITS, & IN OTHER PLANTS; ALSO IDENTIFIED AS ACID OR THE CORRESPONDING ESTER IN THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF LEMON PETITGRAIN.

n-Pentanoic acid was identified as a volatile fatty acid occurring in dalieb fruit pulp at a concentration of 5 mg/kg pulp(1).

URBAN/SUBURBAN: n-Pentanoic acid was detected in the daytime air of Fukaya, Takasaki, and Karuizawa, Japan at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.01 ppb, respectively, in 1986(1).

SOURCE DOMINATED: n-Pentanoic acid has been reported as a component of diesel exhaust(1). On Sept 8-9, 1993 n-pentanoic acid was detected in the ambient air during a photochemical smog episode in Los Angeles, CA at an average concn of 0.26 ug/cu m for 6 samples with a high and low concn of 0.00 ug/cu m and 0.34 ug/cu m(2).

Pentanoic acid is a food additive permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption as a synthetic flavoring substance and adjuvant in accordance with the following conditions: a) they are used in the minimum quantity required to produce their intended effect, and otherwise in accordance with all the principles of good manufacturing practice, and 2) they consist of one or more of the following, used alone or in combination with flavoring substances and adjuvants generally recognized as safe in food, prior-sanctioned for such use, or regulated by an appropriate section in this part.