Danger GHS02GHS07 NOAEL Data REACH Registered Cosmetic Ingredient

Methyl ethyl ketone

Also known as: 2-Butanone, MEK, AI3-07540, Caswell No. 569, EINECS 201-159-0 (+15 more)

CAS 78-93-3

Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS 78-93-3) is a chemical substance with GHS signal word Danger; key hazard signal: H225; H336; H319. Key regulatory status: REACH registered, 60 regulatory/inventory lists, cosmetic ingredient cross-reference; source data from ECHA CLP, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, ECHA REACH, ILO ICSC, OSHA.

View cosmetic safety profile for MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone / 2-Butanone) →

Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence

Methyl ethyl ketone is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H225, H336, H319).

SOURCE Cross-vertical comparison Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: eu_clp_annex_vi.signal_word/hazard_statement_code

SOURCE NOAEL studies

NOAEL studies

SOURCE Chemical inventory jurisdictions

Regulatory lists

SOURCE EU CLP Annex VI

GHS signal

Danger

Chemical Identity

CAS, identifiers, formula, and alternate names for the matched substance record.

SOURCE DSSTox identifiers 25 fields

Name

Methyl ethyl ketone

CAS Number

78-93-3

Molecular Formula

C4H8O

InChI Key

ZWEHNKRNPOVVGH-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Monoisotopic Mass

72.057515

Synonyms

2-ButanoneMEKAI3-07540Caswell No. 569EINECS 201-159-0EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 044103FEMA No. 2170Ketone, ethyl methylMethylethylketoneMetyl ethyl ketoneRCRA waste number U159Ethylmethylcetone

GHS / CLP Classification

EU harmonized hazard classification, hazard statements, pictograms, and signal word.

SOURCE EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA) 1 classifications

Hazard Class	H-Statements	Pictograms	Signal
Flam. Liq. 2; STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2	H225; H336; H319	GHS02; GHS07	Danger

ICSC Chemical Safety

International Chemical Safety Card hazard and exposure summary.

SOURCE WHO/JECFA 1 records

Field	Value
GHS Signal Word	DANGER
GHS Hazard Statements	Highly flammable liquid and vapour Causes serious eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways
Short-term Effects	The substance is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. Exposure could cause unconsciousness. If swallowed the substance easily enters the airways and could result in aspiration pneumonitis.
Long-term Effects	The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.
Routes of Exposure	The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, by ingestion and through the skin.

OSHA Exposure Limits

Occupational exposure limits from OSHA, NIOSH, and ACGIH rows.

SOURCE OSHA / NIOSH / ACGIH occupational exposure limits 6 records

Agency	Metric	Value	ppm	mg/m3	Skin
OSHA	TWA	200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	200	590	N
NIOSH	TWA	200 ppm (500 mg/m³)	200	500	N
NIOSH	STEL	300 ppm (885 mg/m³)	300	885	N
CAL/OSHA	TWA	200 ppm (590 mg/m³)	200	590	N
CAL/OSHA	STEL	300 ppm (885 mg/m³)	300	885	N
NIOSH	IDLH	3000 ppm	3000	-	-

Functional Uses

Industrial and product-use categories associated with this substance.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

SolventFragranceFlavouring and nutrientAdhesion/cohesion promoterCatalystDegradant/impurityNo specific technical function

Regulatory Lists

Inventory, screening, and regulatory list matches from public chemical databases.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

List	Keyword	Source
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry stain remover; detected; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
consumer_product; detected	Elsevier	CPCat
consumer_product; detected; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
consumer_product; Europe; nondetect	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
IFRA Transparency	IFRA	IFRA
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)	FDA	United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
consumer_product	P&G	Proctor & Gamble
air; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment; detected; emissions	Elsevier	CPCat
air; detected; emissions; Personal care	Elsevier	CPCat
air; Cleaning products and household care; detected; emissions	Elsevier	CPCat
Europe	European Commission	Fl@vis
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA

NOAEL Studies

Toxicology endpoints rendered from public NOAEL study rows.

SOURCE NOAEL studies Showing 50 of 52 studies

Value	Unit	Endpoint	Route	Species	Source
50.86	uL/min/10^6 cells	Clint	-	Rat	NTP ICE adme parameters
50.86	uL/min/10^6 cells	Clint	-	Human	NTP ICE adme parameters
=600	mg/m3	DNEL systemic	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB GESTIS DNEL
50	unitless	Draize rabbit irritation score	Ocular	Rabbit	NTP ICE eye irritation
3	unitless	EPA Classification	Ocular	Rabbit	NTP ICE eye irritation
6PT9KLV9IO	UNII	FDA UNII substance identifier	-	-	openFDA substances
0.5613	fraction	Fu	-	Rat	NTP ICE adme parameters
0.8744	fraction	Fu	-	Human	NTP ICE adme parameters
2	unitless	GHS Classification	Ocular	Rabbit	NTP ICE eye irritation
0	%	Incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
1.350e+4	ug/cm2	Induction dose per skin area	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
0.21	%/sec	Intensity	Ocular	-	NTP ICE eye irritation
23.5	mg/L	LC50	Inhalation	-	NTP ICE acute inhalation
23.58	mg/L	LC50	Inhalation	-	NTP ICE acute inhalation
34.48	mg/L	LC50	Inhalation	-	NTP ICE acute inhalation
=1517	mg/m^3	LEC (HEC)	inhalation	-	Regulatory source
=639	mg/kg/day	LED 5	oral	-	Regulatory source
=5.309e+4	mg/m3	LEL	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB DOE Protective Action Criteria
=292.4	mg/m3	LOAEL	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB ATSDR MRLs
=292.4	mg/m3	LOAEL	inhalation	Human (M/F)	Regulatory source
=796.3	mg/m3	LOAEL	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB Cal OEHHA REL derivations
=1771	mg/kg bw/day	LOAEL	oral	Rat	ToxValDB IRIS
=4571	mg/kg bw/day	LOAEL	oral	Rat	ToxValDB DOE Wildlife Benchmarks
=2.000e+4	mg/L	LOAEL	oral	Rat	ECHA
0	s	Lag time	Ocular	-	NTP ICE eye irritation
=2.949	mg/m3	MRL	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB ATSDR MRLs
=1327	mg/m3	NOAEC	inhalation	Mouse	ECHA
=1475	mg/m3	NOAEC	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
=2949	mg/m3	NOAEC	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
~2955	mg/m3	NOAEC	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
=1.487e+4	mg/m3	NOAEC	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
490	mg/kg bw/day	NOAEL	oral	rat	COSMOS DB
=589.8	mg/m3	NOAEL	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB TX TCEQ
=594	mg/kg bw/day	NOAEL	oral	Rat	ToxValDB IRIS
981	mg/kg bw/day	NOAEL	oral	rat	COSMOS DB
=1771	mg/kg bw/day	NOAEL	oral	Rat	ToxValDB DOE Wildlife Benchmarks
=7373	mg/m3	NOAEL	inhalation	Rat	ToxValDB EU SCOEL
=1.000e+4	mg/L	NOAEL	oral	Rat	ECHA
=2655	mg/m3	NOAEL (HEC ADJ)	inhalation	Rat	ToxValDB TX TCEQ
=340	mg/kg bw/day	NOEL	injection	Rat	ToxValDB ECOTOX
=1475	mg/m3	NOEL	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
>1.475e+4	mg/m3	NOEL	inhalation	Rat	ECHA
37	%	Plateau level	Ocular	-	NTP ICE eye irritation
3	unitless	Relative reliability score	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
=1	mg/m3	RfC	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB RSL
=5	mg/m3	RfC	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB Alaska DEC
=5	mg/m^3	RfC	inhalation	-	Regulatory source
=0.48	mg/kg bw/day	RfD	dermal	Human	ToxValDB Alaska DEC
=0.6	mg/kg bw/day	RfD	oral	Human	ToxValDB Alaska DEC
=0.6	mg/kg/day	RfD	oral	-	Regulatory source

Showing 50 of 52 studies

REACH Registration

Registration status from the ECHA REACH registered substances database.

SOURCE ECHA 1 records

Status	Name	EC Number	Link
Registered	Butanone	201-159-0	ECHA overview →

Cosmetic Safety Profile

Same-CAS cosmetic ingredient record for cross-vertical context.

SOURCE CosIng / Ingredients DB

EU Status

prohibited

Max

Pharmaceutical Data

Same-CAS pharmaceutical records from drug and bioactivity sources.

SOURCE ChEMBL / DailyMed BUTANONE

ChEMBL Phase

Not listed

Adverse Events

Bioactivity

View full pharmaceutical profile →

Cannabis Data

Same-CAS cannabis compliance and lab records where available.

SOURCE Cannabis regulatory / lab data efsa substances

1 cannabis record found in efsa substances.

View full cannabis profile →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GHS hazard classification for Methyl ethyl ketone?

Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS 78-93-3) is classified under EU CLP Annex VI as Flam. Liq. 2; STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2 with signal word Danger. Hazard statements: H225; H336; H319. Source: EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA).

What is the NOAEL for Methyl ethyl ketone?

Methyl ethyl ketone has 52 NOAEL studies in the database. The lowest reported value is 0 % via Dermal in Human. Source: NTP ICE skin sensitization.

What regulatory lists include Methyl ethyl ketone?

Methyl ethyl ketone appears on 35 regulatory/inventory lists including air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe, air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products, detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior, and 32 more. Source: EPA CPDat.

What are the occupational exposure limits for Methyl ethyl ketone?

Occupational exposure limits for Methyl ethyl ketone are set by OSHA, NIOSH, CAL/OSHA. 6 limit values from official agencies are documented in the database. Source: OSHA, NIOSH, ACGIH.

Is Methyl ethyl ketone used in cosmetics?

Yes, Methyl ethyl ketone is also indexed as a cosmetic ingredient under the name MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone / 2-Butanone). View the full cosmetic safety profile on the ingredient page for detailed safety data, SCCS opinions, and regulatory status.

Where does the safety data for Methyl ethyl ketone come from?

Safety data is sourced from ECHA CLP Annex VI, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, EPA DSSTox, ECHA REACH, ILO/WHO ICSC, OSHA/NIOSH/ACGIH, CosIng / Ingredients DB, ChEMBL / DailyMed, cannabis regulatory/lab databases. All data traces to primary regulatory sources and is updated from official government databases.

Does Methyl ethyl ketone have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?

Methyl ethyl ketone is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H225, H336, H319).

Is Methyl ethyl ketone used outside industrial chemicals?

Methyl ethyl ketone also appears in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, cannabis databases.