4-Methyl-pent-3-en-2-on

Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

Use alcohol-resistant foam, powder, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

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

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap. 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. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately 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.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Mesityl oxide:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

A harmful contamination of the air can be reached rather quickly on evaporation of this substance at 20 °C.

Vapors are heavier than air (vapor-air density at 100 °F, 1.1) and may travel to a source of ignition and flash back.

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

2.0 [ppm]

Use dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide, or water spray. Water may be ineffective. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.

If material /is/ on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may spread fire. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), alcohol-resistant foam, powder, carbon dioxide.

Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Cool. Keep in the dark.

Protect containers against physical damage. Store well-ventilated cool place, isolating from oxidizing materials. Outdoor or isolated place from inhabitants is preferable. In case of outdoor storage, use standard combustible liquid storage room or cabinet.

Eliminate all ignition sources. Stop or control the leak, if it can be done without undue risk. Use appropriate foam to blanket release and suppress vapors. Approach release from upwind. Absorb in noncombustible material for proper disposal.

Absorb on paper. Evaporate on a glass or iron dish in hood. Burn the paper.

Ventilation. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent and remove to safe place. Do NOT wash away into sewer. (Extra personal protection: self-contained breathing apparatus).

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.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 15(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 28,900 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that mesityl oxide is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of mesityl oxide from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 3.67X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 8.21 mm Hg(4), and water solubility(2). Mesityl oxide is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(4). Theoretical %BOD values of 74(5) and 30(6) from studies done with sewage inoculum suggest 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 15(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 28,900 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that mesityl oxide is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 3.67X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 8.21 mm Hg(4), and its water solubility(2). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 17 hours and 11 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 1.9(SRC), using a water solubility of 28,900 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(6), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Theoretical %BOD values of 74(7) and 30(8) from studies done with sewage inoculum suggest that 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), mesityl oxide, which has a vapor pressure of 8.21 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase mesityl oxide 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 4.9 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.86X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of mesityl oxide with ozone has been estimated as 2X10-16 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 1.4 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 7X10+11 ozone molecules per cu cm(4). The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of mesityl oxide with nitrate has been estimated as 2.04X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(5). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 3.9 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 2.4X10+8 nitrate molecules per cu cm(6). Vapor-phase mesityl oxide undergoes direct photolysis with an experimental half-life and rate constant of 76.8 hrs and 8.75X10-3/hr, respectively(7).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and by ingestion.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Sore throat. Shortness of breath. Headache. Dizziness. Drowsiness. Unconsciousness. Respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Dry skin. Redness. Pain.

Redness. Pain.

Abdominal cramps. Further see Inhalation.

irritation eyes, skin, mucous membrane; narcosis, coma; In Animals: liver, kidney damage; central nervous system effects

Exhaust from an automobile using various hydrocarbon fuels under simulated city conditions yielded concentrations of <0.1-1.5 ppm of mesityl oxide(1). Qualitatively detected in Lockport, IL oil refinery final effluent(2) and in advanced waste water treatment concentrates from Orange County and Lake Tahoe, CA(3-5). In a comprehensive survey of 46 industrial and publicly owned treatment works, mesityl oxide was qualitatively identified in effluents from various organic chemical manufacturing sites(6).

The Koc of mesityl oxide is estimated as 15(SRC), using a water solubility of 28,900 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that mesityl oxide is expected to have very high mobility in soil.

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Mesityl oxide is included on this list.

EPA is withdrawing the final test rule for mesityl oxide (MO; CAS No. 141-79-7). EPA has determined that, since testing of MO has been completed according to the terms of an enforceable consent agreement, testing required under the test rule would be duplicative and therefore, the test rule is no longer needed.

A testing consent order is in effect for mesityl oxide for health effects testing, FR publication date: September 1991.

Mesityl oxide is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a plant nutrient, cosolvent or solvent in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only. Limit: Not for use after edible parts of plant begin to form. Do not graze livestock in treated areas within 48 hr after application.

This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Mesityl oxide is produced, as an intermediate or a final product, by process units covered under this subpart.