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ATSDR - Public Health Statement: 2-Hexanone Page 3 of 5 breakdown products, called 2,5-hexanedione, may be responsible for the harmful effects on the nervous system (see Section 1 .4). When 2-hexanone gets in through the skin, some leaves the body through the lungs and urine within a few hours. We have no information on how much stays in the body or for how long. If you live or work near a hazardous waste site, you may be exposed to 2- hexanone in the air that you breathe or in the water you drink or bathe in, if it contains small amounts of this chemical. luck to top 1.4 How can 2-hexanone affect my health? The most important health concern for humans from exposure to 2-hexanone is its harmful effects on the nervous system. These effects were seen in workers who were exposed to 2-hexanone for almost a year. The major effects were weakness, numbness, and tingling in the skin of the hands and feet. Similar effects were seen in animals that ate or breathed high levels of 2-hexanone; these effects included weakness, clumsiness, and paralysis. We do not know whether 2-hexanone can cause cancer or birth defects. In one study, when pregnant rats were exposed to 2- hexanone in the air, fewer offspring lived after birth, and those that did survive had low birth weights. Many of the studies in which the health effects of 2-hexanone in humans or animals were reported did not use pure 2-hexanone. Therefore, we do not know whether the results were caused by 2- hexanone itself or by the other chemicals in the mixture. bac:k...to top 1.5 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to 2-hexanone? Tests can be used to find out whether you have recently been exposed to 2-hexanone. The tests measure levels of 2-hexanone or its breakdown products in blood or urine. These tests require special equipment and are done in a special laboratory, so they are usually not available in a doctor's office. However, these tests cannot be used to predict whether harmful effects will occur. hack to torp 1.6 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health? The federal government has set certain regulations and guidelines to help protect people from the possible health effects of 2- hexanone in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a limit of 5 ppm (5 parts of 2- hexanone in 1 million parts of air) as an average exposure level to this chemical over a 40-hour work week. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has made the same recommendation. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends an even http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs44.htmi 4/5/2007