Butane

Flammable agents - 4th degree

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

Cosmetics ingredient -> Other (Specify)

Cosmetic ingredients (Butane) -> CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review)

Cosmetic ingredients (n-Butane) -> CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review)

Propellant

log Kow = 2.89

2.89

2.74

0.6 at 32 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float

0.573 g/cu cm at 25 °C (p>1 atm)

Liquid density (at saturation pressure; 15.6 °C), kg/cu m: 583.0 /from table/

Relative density (water = 1): 0.6

0.6 at 32 °F

0.599 @25 °C

61 mg/L at 68 °F (NTP, 1992)

In water, 61.2 mg/L at 25 °C

Very soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, chloroform

Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 0.0061

Slight

Danger

H220: Extremely flammable gas [Danger Flammable gases]

P203, P210, P222, P280, P377, P381, and P403 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Danger

H220: Extremely flammable gas [Danger Flammable gases]

P203, P210, P222, P280, P318, P377, P381, P403, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Chemical: Butane

Hazard Traits - Carcinogenicity; Genotoxicity

Butane is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Butane are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

Status: Active Update: 02-03-2023 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15434

Butane: HSNO Approval: HSR000989 Approved with controls

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:

· EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE.

· EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE.

Extremely flammable. Gas/air mixtures are explosive.

Highly flammable, dangerous fire ... risk.

Flammable in the presence of an oxidizing gas (eg air), a source of ignitino, and when the concentration of the gas is between the lower and upper explosive limits. Keep away from heat/sparks/open flame/hotsurface/oxidizing gas. No smoking.

Very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame...

High exposure produces drowsiness but no other evidence of systemic effect. (USCG, 1999)

· Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning, especially when in closed or confined areas.

· Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning, especially when in closed or confined areas.

Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] TLV Basis is CNS impairment; Caused drowsiness in 6 men and 6 women after exposure to 1% (10,000 ppm) for 10 minutes; The median effective concentration (EC50) for producing cardiac sensitization in anesthetized dogs was 7% (70,000 ppm). No symptoms in 53 refinery workers exposed to 1 to 8 ppm for 11 years; Deaths in butane gas abusers were attributed to hypoxia and cardiac failure. [ACGIH: Butane, isomers] A chemical abused by inhaling (lighter fluid); may be abused by teenagers because it is cheap and available; Butane is in the list of Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers. [Reference #1] In confined space spill, may displace air and act as simple asphyxiant; Inhalation of high concentrations may cause CNS effects; [ICSC]

1011 115

1075 115

1011 115

1075 115

Substance added directly to human food affirmed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

Butane used as a general purpose food additive in animal drugs, feeds, and related products is generally recognized as safe when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:

Shut off supply; if not possible and no risk to surroundings, let the fire burn itself out. In other cases extinguish with powder, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep cylinder cool by spraying with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.

Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

ON FROSTBITE: rinse with plenty of water, do NOT remove clothes. Refer for medical attention .

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

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

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. If symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop, immediately transport the victim to a hospital.

General First Aid:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

1000.0 [ppm]

Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.

Use water spray to cool unopened containers.

Wear self contained breathing apparatus for fire fighting if necessary.

Butane in liquid form may be stored both above and below ground. Besides storage in liquefied form under its vapor pressure at normal atmospheric temperatures, refrigerated liquid storage at atmospheric pressure may be used. Such systems are closed and insulated, and the liquid petroleum gas vapor is circulated through pumps and compressors to serve as the refrigerant for the system. Butane may be stored in pits in the earth capped by metal domes and in underground chambers.

Storage temp: ambient; venting: safety relief.

Burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber but exert extra care in igniting as this material is highly flammable. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

n-Butane was detected in 6 of 12 samples of mothers breast milk from the cities of Bayonne NJ, Jersey City NJ, Bridgeville PA and Baton Rouge LA(1). According to the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) conducted in New Jersey, 2 of 12 personal breath samples contained n-butane(2). The background measurements utilized as a set of controls for air expired from humans contained n-butane in 8 of 20 samples collected over 18 mo(3). Butane was detected in human breath samples at concentrations between 1 to 10 ppb(4).

... Mixing butane and isobutylene produced an additive ... /CNS depressant/ effect in 2 of 12 mice and a potentiating effect in the remaining 10 animals. In rats, the butane-isobutylene mixture showed a summation of effects in 9 of 12 animals and a potentiation of effects in the remaining animals.

... Exposure of dogs to 1-20% n-butane for ... 2 min to 2 hr hypersensitized the heart to ventricular fibrillation induced by epinephrine. /In a separate study/ ... exposure of dogs to concn of 15-90% for 10 min caused the heart to be sensitized to epinephrine-induced arrhythmias.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 40(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 2.89(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that n-butane is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of n-butane from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.95 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 1820 mm Hg(4) and water solubility, 61.2 mg/L(5). The potential for volatilization of n-butane from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(4). While volatilization from soil surfaces is expected to be the predominant fate process of n-butane released to soil, this compound is also susceptible to biodegradation(SRC). A biodegradation rate of 1.8 mg C/day/kg dry soil(6) suggests that biodegradation may be an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 40(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 2.89(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that n-butane is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(4) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.95 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 1820 mm Hg(5) and water solubility, 61.2 mg/L(6). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 50 minutes and 3 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(7), an estimated BCF of 40(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate(SRC). Photolysis(8) or hydrolysis(4) of n-butane in aquatic systems are not expected to be important environmental fate process in water(SRC). While volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be the predominant fate process in water, this compound is also susceptible to biodegradation(SRC). Complete biodegradation was reported in 34 days using an activated sludge inoculum(9), suggesting biodegradation may be an important environmental fate process in water(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), n-butane, which has a vapor pressure of 1820 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a gas in the ambient atmosphere. Gas-phase n-butane 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 6.3 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 2.54X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 deg(3). Experimental data showed that 7.7% of the n-butane fraction in a dark chamber reacted with nitrogen oxide to form the corresponding alkyl nitrate(4,5), suggesting nighttime reactions with radical species and nitrogen oxides may contribute to the atmospheric transformation of n-butane(SRC). Based on data for iso-octane and n-hexane(6), n-butane is not expected to absorb UV light at wavelengths >290 nm and, therefore, is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

Butane, not specified as n-butane, was detected in beef volatiles at an unreported concentration(1). n-Butane emission rates from hamburger meat charbroiling over a natural gas-fired grill was 107,000 ug/kg of meat cooked(2). Butane comprised of 14.4, 24.42, 10.25 and 6.23 ppbC% of nonmethane organic carbon emissions monitored in restaurants, tortillerias, rotisseries and near food frying operations in Mexico City, respectively(3).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.

inhalation, skin and/or eye contact (liquid)

Inhalation (L1283)

Safe in the present practices of use and concentration. Ingredient, concentration, and use information are available in documents discoverable at https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org

n-Butane is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature. It occurs as a component in natural gas from which it is refined. n-Butane is used as fuel, refrigerant and aerosol propellant. The acute toxicity of n-butane has been studied after inhalation exposure in experimental animals. LC50 (4h) was 658 mg/l in rats and LC50 (2h) was 680 mg/l in mice. In dogs, lethal concentrations ranged from 474 to 592 mg/l. A concentration of 308 mg/l caused light anesthesia in mice within 25 minutes, and an exposure to 521 mg/l had similar effect within one minute. n-Butane ... sensitiz/ed/ the myocardium to epinephrine-induced cardiac arrhythmias in dogs after inhalation. No reports on acute toxicity of n-butane in experimental animals by other administration routes were located in the available literature. In a 21-day inhalation toxicity study of a mixture of n-butane, isobutane, n-penta and isopentane, containing 25% of each, the absence of toxicity was evident up to 11.8 mg/l which was the highest concentration tested. The study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats which were exposed 6 hours per day over three weeks for a total of 15 exposures. No long-term studies using pure n-butane were located in the available literature. No mutagenic activity was observed in several tests in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 98 and TA 100 with or without the addition of an exogenous metabolism system. No studies on carcinogenicity, reproduction toxicity and teratogenicity, immunotoxicity or allergy were located in the available literature. Several reports on human exposure to n-butane were available. The increasing abuse of volatile substances, n-butane being among them, increases the risk of sudden death in connection to inhalation of the gas. The range of concentrations that may lead to "high" feelings or to death has been noted to be very narrow. The use of a oven cleaner containing n-butane as propellant has caused transient myoclonus in one patient. No other physical abnormalities were noted. An aerosol spray which contained n-butane as propellant, was reported to cause deep frostbite symptoms ir the skin when sprayed directly on it. Because of the anesthetic effect of n-butane, truck drivers and terminal operators from different loading facilities and service stations were examined for exposure gasoline vapours containing 90 to 92 percent n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane and isopentane. Exposures to the gasoline vapor were substantially lower than the established ACGIH threshold values (300 ppm or 0.89 mg/l for gasoline, and 800 ppm or 1.9 mg/l for n-butane). Occupational exposure of 53 male refinery workers for an average of 11 years to n-butane (concentration varied from 0.0004 mg/l to 0.0178 mg/l) did not cause any clinical symptoms in the workers. ... In conclusion, exposure to low concentrations of n-butane has not been reported to cause adverse effects in humans. It is anesthetic to both humans and experimental animals. Sudden death may occur when n-butane is inhaled at high concentrations. The safety margin between anesthetic and lethal concentrations appears to be very narrow. Chronic exposure to n-butane has been reported to cause some symptoms in the central nervous system. Critical effects might be lethality when inhaled in high doses, and effects on the central nervous system in chronically exposed individuals.

Butane is a simple asphyxiant and causes toxicity by displacing oxygen. It also affects the central nervous system by enhancing glycine receptors and inhibiting N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. (L1284, A352)

According to the National Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Database, the median urban atmospheric concn of n-butane is 9.174 ppbV for 546 samples(1). Based upon this figure and the value for average daily inhalation by a human adult of 20 cu m of air, the average daily intake of n-butane via air is 183 mg.

Substance added directly to human food affirmed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

Butane used as a general purpose food additive in animal drugs, feeds, and related products is generally recognized as safe when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice.

Residues of butane are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest. Use: Propellant.

Residues of butane are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to animals. Use: propellant.

Butane

1

10000

Flammable chemical that can be released at a facility.

...Not infrequently intentional butane inhalation results in high morbidity and mortality. A fatal outcome of butane abuse can be caused by asphyxia, cardiac arrhythmia or trauma. The reported number of cases in which death was the consequence of pure butane inhalation is limited, and in most cases a mixture of propellants was involved. This report covers two cases of sudden death due to the sniffing of a cigarette lighter refill containing butane. Autopsy was followed by toxicological, pathohistological and immunohistochemical analysis. Butane gas was confirmed in samples of blood, urine, brain and lungs... Histology showed almost identical changes in the lungs and heart in both cases. The morphology of heart damage on standard H/E stains was of special interest because it displayed all the characteristics of chronic and acute myocardial hypoxia found in the absence of atherosclerotic heart disease. In order to confirm early cardiac death caused by asphyxia due to butane inhalation a panel of immunohistochemical agents was used...

Based on kinetic studies ... with ethane and n-pentane, the elimination half-life of n-butane can be expected to be closer to that of n-pentane (half life= 0.13 hr, at nonsaturating concn).

Its elimination half-life is 0.13 hr at nonsaturating concns.

A study was conducted to establish whether volatile hydrocarbons, such as propane, n-butane and iso-butane, are metabolized in mice or not. In mice having inhaled these gases, isopropanol and acetone were yielded from propane, sec-butanol and methyl ethyl ketone from n-butane, and tert-butanol from iso-butane as the respective metabolites. In addition, liver microsomes were found to contain the enzymic system participating in these metabolisms. In vitro reactions with liver microsomes produced isopropanol from propane, sec-butanol from n-butane, and tert-butanol from iso-butane. It was assumed that hydrocarbons were first converted to (omega-1)-alcohols by microsomal enzyme system and then to corresponding ketones by alcohol dehydrogenase.

Microsomal enzyme systems have been found that oxidize butane to its parent alcohol.

Hydroxylation of butane ... /occurs/ in rat liver microsomes to yield 2-butanol as the major metabolite. n-Butane is the lowest molecular weight alkane ... demonstrated to substrate-bind with cytochrome p450. ... If 2-butanol is the major metabolite formed in mammals, it would be expected to be eliminated in expired air. ... 2-Butanol may also be conjugated with glucuronic acid or be oxidized to methyl ethyl ketone which in turn is expired.

Purified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a mixture of butane, isobutane, and propane, is commonly abused by inhalation. Little is known about the mammalian metabolism of these substances. Metabolism of other hydrocarbons, including n-hexane and cyclohexane, has been studied in vitro using a range of liver preparations, with metabolites analyzed by static headspace techniques... Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone were formed from cyclohexane and 1-, 2-, and 3-hexanol and 2-hexanone from n-hexane as predicted. Secondary alcohols are found for the other compounds studied, except for propene and isobutane, together with 2-propanone and 2-butanone from propane and n-butane, respectively. Samples from three individuals who died following LPG abuse contained a range of putative n-butane metabolites: n-butanol, 2-butanol, 2,3-butanediol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, and 2,3-butanedione. To /the authors/ knowledge, the last three compounds have not been proposed as metabolites of n-butane in man. These might be produced through similar metabolic pathways to those of n-hexane and n-heptane...

Inhalation studies ... in which rats and mice were exposed to lethal concn (27.8-29%) revealed that n-butane is absorbed and distributed to various tissues. After 4 hr of respiratory exposure, surviving rats were sacrificed ... concn of butane were ... highest in perinephric fat (2086 ppm), then brain (750 ppm), spleen (522 ppm), liver (492 ppm), and kidney (441 ppm). In mice exposed to 2 hr of butane vapors, the brain levels of n-butane were found to be 779 ppm. In both rats and mice the brain levels of n-butane correlated with the degree of CNS depression ... Dermal absorption of n-butane vapors has not been reported. However, dermal penetration of butane would not be expected to occur to any large extent since skin contact is transient because of volatility.

Because of its volatile nature, elimination of butane by exhalation can be anticipated.

CIR ingredient: Butane

CIR ingredient: n-Butane

Used as an aerosol propellant, fuel, and chemical intermediate; present in natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); [ACGIH]

Petroleum Production and Refining [Category: Industry]

As producer gas; raw material for motor fuels, in the manufacture of synthetic rubbers.

Organic synthesis, raw material for synthetic rubber and high-octane liquid fuels, fuel for household and many industrial purposes; manufacture of ethylene; solvent; refrigerant; standby and enricher gas; propellant in aerosols; pure grades used in calibrating instruments; food additive.

(1972) 7.7X10+10 G

(1975) 4.23X10+11 G

(1984) 3.27X10+8 g

(1987) 8.25X10+4 bbl

(1988) 5.01X10+4 bbl

(1972) 1.48X10+12 G

(1975) 1.69X10+12 G (INCL PROPANE MIXTS)

(1984) 5.17X10+9 g

(1986) 3.87X10+7 bbl

2023: 90,000,000,000 - <95,000,000,000 lb

(1975) 3.24-3.84X10+13 G

(1984) 1.08X10+12 g

(1987) 2.03X10+9 lb

Butane is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) chemical (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S. in >1 million pounds in 1990 and/or 1994. The HPV list is based on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule. (IUR) (40 CFR part 710 subpart B; 51FR21438).

For more U.S. Production (Complete) data for n-Butane (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Butanes are naturally occurring alkane hydrocarbons that are produced primarily in association with natural gas processing and certain refinery operations such as catalytic cracking and catalytic reforming. The term butanes includes the two structural isomers, n-butane [106-97-8], CH3CH2CH2CH3, and isobutane [75-28-5], (CH3)2CHCH3 (2-methylpropane).

Butanes are recovered from raw natural gas and from petroleum refinery streams that result from catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, and other refinery operations. The most common separation techniques are based on a vapor-liquid, two-phase system by which liquid butane is recovered from the feed gas. /Butanes/

Prepared from C2H5I /ethyl iodide/ and sodium amalgam.

/n-Butane is/ ... obtained from natural gas by fractionation following absorption in oil, adsorption to surface-active agents, or refrigeration.

Recovered from LPG /liquefied petroleum gas/ by distillation.

Grades: Research, 99.99 mole %; pure 99 mole %; technical 95 mole %, also available in various mixtures with isobutane, propane, pentanes, etc.

Propane is the principal ingredient of bottled gas particularly in northern states, whereas butane with its considerably higher boiling and freezing points is more widely used in warmer southern states. Mixtures of the two are also common.

Cosmetics product ingredient: Butane (containing greater than or equal to 0,1 % butadiene (203-450-8))

Information on 1 consumer products that contain n-butane in the following categories is provided:

Information on 1784 consumer products that contain Butane in the following categories is provided:

Food additives

Food Additives -> PROPELLANT -> JECFA Functional Classes

Cosmetics -> Propellant

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

Butane: ACTIVE