Risks
Humans:Acetone can be extremely harmful to human health if the use of a product containing acetone is abused and used improperly, or if exposed at high levels of concentration and for long periods of time.
Humans are exposed to acetone through inhalation, ingestion, and absorption through the skin. Once humans are exposed to acetone, it is absorbed into their bloodstream which is carried to the organs throughout their body. Acetone poses as a health risk to humans as it has many harmful effects. Acetone has proven to be highly flammable and therefore can explode or ignite easily, endangering nearby humans of serious burns. When acetone is oxidized, it forms acetone peroxide which is a highly unstable compound which can be formed accidentally, and therefore is highly reactive and an explosive chemical. If you come into contact with acetone, it has the ability to damage your skin through the depletion of moisture and oils, leaving it dry, brittle, and likely to peel. This would only be considered a minor result of exposure to acetone. Moderate-to-high levels of exposure to acetone for short periods of time can cause chronic toxicity and nose, throat, lung, and eye irritation. It can also result in headaches, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, increased pulse rate, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and the shortening of menstrual cycle in women. Exposure to highly concentrated amounts of acetone and its vapours can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, burning of the eyes, and skin irritation and tissue damage. Reproductive toxicity tests have proven that acetone can cause reproductivity problems, especially in men. Acetone can also depress the central nervous system. Animal studies have shown that long exposure to acetone can negatively effect the liver, kidney, cause nerve damage, and present birth defects. Exposure to high levels of acetone can cause extreme negative effects such as unconsciousness, seizures, respiratory distress, and in the worst scenario, death. |
Environment:Although acetone occurs naturally in the environment through decomposing vegetation, volcanic gases, and forest fires, the majority (97%) of the chemical released into the atmosphere is created from industrial purposes.
Acetone is an extremely flammable liquid at room temperature and it also releases a vapour that can form an explosive mixture with the air. The acetone that is released into the environment from a manufacturing origin, is also intensely flammable. These vapours can ignite from something as small as a static discharge, and they can catch afire from a distance, thus the chemical in our atmosphere can be remarkably dangerous in our environment. Acetone is also evident in water, and even when it is diluted to 1%, it can still be flammable. With this chemical present in our environment, forests, structures, habitats, and animals, are more likely to be harmed. Many more forest fires can rupture from the hazardous substance, with the potential of burning acres of plantation and harming not only animals habitats, but animals themselves. Not only is acetone's extreme flammability a risk to the environment, but it also poses a significant risk to the oxygen depletion in aquatic systems due to the microbial consumption. Because acetone occurs naturally in the environment, our goal is to minimize and possibly eliminate the exposure of acetone from manufacturing or industrial purposes from the environment. |
In the youtube video below, you will see the effects that acetone has on styrofoam. Acetone is a common ingredient found in many household cleaning and cosmetic products used by humans on a daily basis. If acetone has the ability to dissolve styrofoam this quickly, imagine what tolls it has on human and environmental health. With this video and the information on the dangers of acetone provided above, exposing ourselves to this ingredient when using products such as nail polish remover, acne treatments, and paint thinners, no longer seems like a decent idea.
benefits
humans:Extremely small amounts of acetone is created metabolically in the body, mostly from the break down of fat. The human body can use the small doses of acetone present for normal processes that make glucose and fat.
There are few benefits in regards to acetone and the human body. Excluding the amount of acetone created naturally in your body, any exposure of acetone that is produced industrially, proves to be harmful to human health. |
Environment:Acetone occurs naturally in the environment from sources including plants, trees, decomposing vegetation, volcanic gases, and forest fires. The acetone that is present in the atmosphere can break down from sunlight and other chemicals every 22 days. It is also consumed by microorganisms and is broken down into soil and water. Acetone does not bind to soil or in animals either, thus, despite the fact that it has vigorously flammable properties, it is not a huge threat to the environment if it does not partake in a combustion reaction.
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