Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. National Pollutant Inventory
  5. Substances
  6. Substance fact sheets
  7. Acetone

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • Substances
    • Fact sheets
    • Background
    • Substance list and thresholds

Acetone

On this page

  • Overview
  • Health effects
  • Environmental effects
  • Sources of emissions
  • References

Description

Acetone is used as a solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, rubber, plastics, lacquers, varnishes and rubber cements. It is used to make many chemical compounds, rayon, photographic films, plastics, fibres, drugs and other chemicals, for storing acetylene gas, and is present in paint and varnish removers, purifying paraffin and for hardening and dehydrating tissues.

Substance details

Substance name: Acetone

CASR number: 67-64-1

Molecular formula: C3H6O

Synonyms: Dimethyl ketone, methyl ketone, 2-propanone, b-ketopropanone, dimethylformaldehyde, pyroacetic ether.

Physical properties

Acetone is a colourless liquid with a distinct odour. It is highly flammable. Acetone is used to dissolve other chemical substances and mixes readily with water, alcohol, dimethylformamide, chloroform, ether and most oils. Acetone is considered a volatile organic compound by the National Pollutant Inventory.

Specific Gravity: 0.786

Melting Point: -94°C

Boiling Point: 56.5°C

Relative vapour density: 0.788

Flash point: -18°C

Chemical properties

Acetone can polymerise rapidly due to heating and under the influence of air, light and on contact with a catalyst, strong oxidisers and metals such as copper and aluminium, with fire or explosion hazard. As a gas mixed with air, acetone is a fire and explosion hazard. On standing, acetone can form peroxides which may then explode. Acetone will react with iron and steel in the presence of moisture. Acetone is capable of dissolving plastic glasses frames, jewellery, pens and pencils, rayon stockings and other rayon garments.

Further information

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of acetone emissions in Australia.

  • Australia's acetone emission report

Description

When exposed to acetone, the substance enters the blood stream, exposing all internal organs to the substance. After exposure to acetone at low concentrations, the liver is capable of breaking acetone down to non-harmful compounds that are used to make energy for normal body functions.

Exposure to moderate or high levels of acetone can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and lead to headaches, light-headedness, confusion, increased pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, unconsciousness and possibly coma, and it may shorten the menstrual cycle in women. The smell and irritation to the respiratory organs is a warning signal to help prevent breathing acetone at much higher concentrations.

Acetone exposure can also result in damage to the skin and swallowing large amounts can damage the gastrointestinal tract. Acetone can damage eyes, making them red and sore, and may result in blurred vision, and/or damage to the cornea.

Kidney, liver and nerve damage, increased birth defects and lowered ability to reproduce (males only) have occurred in animals after long-term exposure. It is unknown if these effects would be seen in people after similar exposures.

Acetone is not considered capable of causing cancer.

Entering the body

Acetone can enter the body by inhaling fumes or by contact with eyes and skin. Tobacco smoke also contains low levels of acetone.

Exposure

Acetone is present in low levels in the environment. Inhalation of acetone at higher levels may occur in the workplace, or from using products that contain acetone (for example, household chemicals, nail polish and paint). Acetone may be consumed by drinking water or eating food that contain this substance, or absorbed by touching products that contain acetone. Children can be exposed by eating soil at landfills or at hazardous sites that contain acetone. Exposure to acetone may result from smoking or inhaling second hand smoke.

Workplace Exposure Standards

Safe Work Australia sets the workplace exposure standard for acetone through the workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants:

  • Maximum eight hour time weighted average (TWA): 500 parts per million (1185 mg/m3)
  • Maximum short term exposure limit (STEL): 1000 parts per million (2375 mg/m3).

These standards are only appropriate for use in workplaces and are not limited to any specific industry or operation. Make sure you understand how to interpret the standards before you use them.

Drinking water guidelines

There is no guideline for acetone in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Description

Acetone has a slight toxicity when exposed to aquatic life. Acetone has caused membrane damage, a decrease in size and decrease in germination of various agricultural and ornamental plants. The effects on birds or land animals have not been fully determined. Acetone is not expected to bioaccumulate in plants, animals or humans.

Entering the environment

Acetone occurs naturally in the environment. However, industrial processes contribute more acetone to the environment than natural processes.

Acetone is mainly emitted to air. It can move from the atmosphere into the water and soil by rain and snow, and it can quickly volatilise back into the air. Acetone is also capable of moving into the groundwater from spills or landfills, where it can be degraded within days.

Where it ends up

Acetone quickly evaporates to a gas if it is released as a liquid. It degrades in sunlight to other chemicals, with the half life for this being approximately 22 days. It does not bind to the soil or bioaccumulate in animals. Microorganisms in the soil and water are capable of degrading acetone.

Environmental guidelines

Currently there are no environmental guidelines for acetone.

Industry sources

Acetone is produced as a result of manufacturing basic chemicals, plastic products, non-ferrous metals, iron and steel, fabricated metal products, motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, photographic and scientific equipment, wood products, ceramic products, cement, lime, plaster and concrete products, meat and meat products, rubber products, paper, paper products and industrial machinery. Acetone is also emitted from printing processes, mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling, water supply, sewerage and drainage services and coal mining.

Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data

Solid fuels burning for heating in the home and for barbeques and incinerators are thought to be the highest sources of emissions of acetone. It is also present in solvents and aerosols used in the home. Acetone is present in tobacco smoke and landfill sites and is emitted as a result of using lawnmowers.

Natural sources

Acetone occurs naturally in plants, trees, volcanic gases, forest fires and as a product of the breakdown of body fat.

Transport sources

Acetone is present in the vehicle exhaust of cars, aeroplanes and from railway operations.

Consumer products

Acetone is a common ingredient in domestic products. It is found in aerosol paints, architectural coatings, automotive and machinery paints and primers, furniture polish and cleaners, household hard surface cleaners, laundry pre-soaks, pet flea and tick removers, cockroach treatments, laundry starches, lubricating greases and oils, nail enamel and polish and polish remover, particleboard, paints (including interior clear finishes, undercoats and primers), varnish, paint and varnish removers and thinners, liniments for veterinary preparations, pharmaceutical preparations, pre-moistened towelettes, shoe polish, sun tan lotions and oils, and in wood office furniture.

Sources used in preparing this information

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR), ToxFAQs: Acetone, accessed February 2007.
  • Environment Writer, Chemical Backgrounder, accessed February 2007.
  • Merck and Co. 2001, Merck Index, 13th Edition, USA
  • National Pollutant Inventory (1999), Contextual Information.
  • Safe Work Australia, Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants, accessed June 2021.
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) - Updated October 2017, accessed May 2018
  • Technical Advisory Panel 1999, Final Report to the National Environment Protection Council.
  • United Nations, International Chemical Safety Cards: Acetone, accessed February 2007.
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 30 June 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.