Exposure to acetone. Uptake and elimination in man.

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Abstract
Acetone is a common industrial solvent and workers are often exposed to its irritating vapors. Male subjects (8) were exposed to acetone vapor on 2 occasions for 2 h in the laboratory. On the 1st occasion they were exposed to .apprx. 1300 mg/m3 during rest and on the 2nd occasion to .apprx. 700 mg/m3 during rest (30 min) and exercise at different work loads on a bicycle ergometer (90 min). Total uptake of acetone was 0.6-1.2 g and the relative uptake was .apprx. 45%. The concentration of acetone in alveolar air was 30-40% of that in the inspiratory air and it was not affected by exposure time or work load. The concentration of acetone in blood increased continuously with increased uptake during exposure and there was no tendency towards equilibrium. The half-time of acetone in alveolar air was .apprx. 4 h and in venous and arterial blood it was .apprx. 6 and 4 h, respectively. The highest concentrations of acetone in urine was measured 3-3.5 h after exposure. The elimination of acetone via the lungs corresponded to .apprx. 20% of the total uptake. Only .apprx. 1% of the uptake was excreted via urine.

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