Acetone Poisoning

Acetone Poisoning Acetone is also referred to as dimethyl ketone and propanone. It is a commonly used solvent in different industrial procedures and it represents the famous "ketone group", which is a major component of solvents. It is a liquid that is flammable and colorless at room temperature. It exists naturally, but can also be synthesized. It mixes well with ethanol, ether and water. Plastic, drugs, fibers and several chemicals are made from acetone. Products like nail polish remover, rubber cement and glues use it as their solvent. Acetone Poisoning refers to being poisoned by this solvent, and the severity of this poisoning depends on the exposure's nature and the quantity of acetone involved.

What Is Acetone Poisoning?


Acetone poisoning happens when there is a larger quantity of propanone in the human body than what the liver can easily break down. Acetone is a transparent liquid with an odor like that of nail polish removal solution. On becoming exposed to air, it begins evaporating and is highly flammable. This means that it is not safe to use acetone around an open flame.

Acetone is a common component of many commonly used products, such as nail polish and furniture polish. However, the occurrence of acetone poisoning is still very low. Your body can handle around two hundred milliliters of acetone easily, as your liver has the ability to break down acetone into chemicals that your body can use.

Acetone is synthesized in your body for breaking down fats; hence, you will have a larger level of acetone in your body when eating a low-fat diet. Starvation, metabolic diseases and exposure to this chemical can also cause acetone poisoning (sometimes called nail polish poisoning). If you happen to swallow acetone, you can get help by stomach pumping. If you haven't swallowed it, then an oral breathing treatment procedure is used for clearing it from your blood via the lungs.

Acetone is found in the following products:

• Certain lacquers


• Certain cleaning solutions


• Nail polish removal solution


• Certain glues, such as rubber cement

This is not an all-inclusive list, so you must always read the contents of a product before buying it to ensure that it does not contain poisonous components like acetone.

What Are the Symptoms of Acetone Poisoning?
There are numerous symptoms of acetone poisoning. These include experiencing a great drop in your Blood Pressure, nausea, pain in your abdomen, an unusual sweet taste in your mouth, vomiting, a pleasant fruity odor, drowsiness, a sudden coma, acting like a drunkard, lack of coordination, difficulty in breathing, a slower rate of breathing, and the urge to urinate frequently.

However, it is imperative to note that very small amounts of acetone are not harmful. The symptoms mentioned above occur when there is a huge amount of propanone in your system. Moreover, breathing a large amount of acetone for a small time period can cause irritation in your throat, nose, eyes and lungs. It can also damage your mouth severely and cause unconsciousness. A prolonged exposure of animals to acetone results in increased damage to the nerves, liver and Kidneys. However, it is still unknown whether or not humans will experience the same effects.

When to See a Doctor
You should consult a doctor as soon as you notice symptoms of this poisoning. It is best to take the product with you, such as nail posh, that resulted in your acetone poisoning. If someone else is experiencing this condition, then don't make that individual throw up until the doctor advises to do so.

What Are the Treatments for Acetone Poisoning?
There are different treatments available for people suffering from acetone poisoning. The first thing should be done is to use oxygen. The ratio of propanone in your blood to that in the air sacs in your lungs is 330. It means that about 330 liters of air should be pumped out and swapped with clean, hygienic air to clearing out acetone from approximately one liter of blood. This treatment is effective but has a recovery period of several days, sometimes even weeks.

If an individual ingests a huge amount of acetone, do not provoke vomiting as propanone is injurious to the esophagus lining and the flesh in the mouth. A better way is to pump the stomach free from acetone. Doctors or nurses pump the patient's stomach by inserting a tube in the stomach via the throat. Saline or water in small amounts is pumped in the stomach area and then sucked out. This procedure will be practiced until there is no acetone in the body.

How Is Acetone Poisoning Prevented?
Acetone poisoning can be prevented by following your healthcare provider's guidelines regarding your medication, lifestyle and diet if you are experiencing metabolic conditions such as Diabetes. Consult your doctor about any changes in the symptoms so that you can manage the concentration of acetone in your body.

You should avoid coming in contact with nail polish removing liquids, paint thinners, and other products that contain acetone: acetone can be splashed into your eyes, enter your skin or stomach, and even enter your system through inhalation. Keep your house properly ventilated when you use products containing acetone. If the ventilation isn't good, wear a mask, safety glasses and gloves. Make sure to keep acetone products out of children's reach and away from flammable items.

Acetone Poisoning

Acetone Poisoning






Acetone is an organic solvent which is colorless and volatile liquid. It can be obtained from natural resources of plants and trees and also as a by-product of animal fats. Acetone is present in urine and blood in minute quantities and the same would be in high levels for diabetic patients. Liver is the organ that breaks down excess of acetone from the body. When the amount of acetone becomes higher than the normal level, the liver becomes incapable of breaking it down resulting in acetone poisoning.

Acetone evaporates quickly in air and when exposed it is easily inflammable and hence should be stored carefully. Many products like nail polish, furniture polish contains acetone. Acetone poisoning is a rare phenomenon that occurs when a person accidentally consume rubbing alcohol or certain paints. It can also be caused when blood sugar increases in alarming amounts resulting in ketoacidosis creating plenty of acetone in the blood that cannot be handled by liver.

A person who is low-fat diet may contain increased levels of acetone in his blood and urine. Similarly when a person is starving for more days his body produces volumes of acetone by metabolic process. Acetone poisoning may produce symptoms like slurred speech and lethargy feeling. Acetone poisoning should be treated immediately to avoid fatal results. The patient will be stabilized by giving extra oxygen or will be forced to vomit acetone by stomach pumping method.

Symptoms :

Human body can tolerate up to 200 ml of acetone easily. Acetone poisoning is a rare occurrence and it develops only if large volumes of acetone are consumed or inhaled by a person accidentally. Acetone poisoning in mild form can produce symptoms like Headache and slurred speech. Some people may feel lethargic and sleepy due to overproduction of acetone.

In severe cases the patient may go into coma or even die within minutes. He may lose conscious and would have difficulty in breathing. It can cause intense pain in the stomach with fruity odor of breath. This condition may lead to mental imbalance and sudden coma. When a person is forced to inhale large volumes of acetone vapor, it can cause severe irritation in his mouth and throat. Soft mucus lining of the esophagus may get burned due to acetone vapor.

Causes :

Under normal condition, our body breaks up fat molecules into organic compounds called ketones. This particle is transported through the blood which would be broken down into much simpler substances when it reaches the liver. Liver cannot tolerate large amounts of ketones produced suddenly. Ketoacidosis is a process by which volumes of ketones are produced in the blood.

This can happen in diabetic patients and people who are extremely starving. Once the body is starved off energy, it would automatically use stored up fats which is converted into ketones. This is a very rare condition happens when a person is left to starve for many days. Acetone poisoning can develop due to accidental consumption of rubbing alcohol, certain paints and nail-polish remover.

Tests :

The doctor would detect acetone poisoning based on the above signs. He would check for the breath of the person for the presence of fruity smell. He may order for blood and urine test to find out the levels of ketones. If needed, toxicology test will be done to check the presence of toxic chemicals in the body.

Treatment :

First the patient will be stabilized by giving supportive oxygen. By giving oxygen supply artificially the body would pump out acetone naturally. However this can be done only for mild acetone poisoning and when the patient is conscious enough to speak. In severe case of acetone poisoning, taking off the excess of acetone through lungs is dangerous. In such cases stomach pumping is to be done to wash out excess of acetone completely.

If the person is induced vomiting acetone can harm and burn the lining of esophagus causing more damage. Hence it is better to clear off acetone by stomach pumping which can be done by sending saline water into the stomach. This procedure should be handled by expert team because stomach pumping can cause the risk of aspiration Pneumonia when water gets into the lungs.

Tips for Prevention :

People with prolonged diabetes should be careful in maintaining the right levels of blood sugar. They should follow the instructions of the doctor in taking medications and diet. People who are handling paints especially thinner should be careful enough not to inhale or consume acetone. Children and teenagers should be taught not to inhale nail polish very much since it may cause acetone poison. People handling acetone compounds in lab should wear protective masks on their face and hands to prevent inhalation of acetone. The entire place should be kept well ventilated.