Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Contains Acetone?Naturally Occurring AcetoneSafetyAlternativesMinimizing Risk
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Contains Acetone?
Naturally Occurring Acetone
Safety
Alternatives
Minimizing Risk
Acetone is a chemical commonly used in industrial, cleaning, and household products, such as nail polish remover. It’s also naturally produced in small amounts in your body and throughout the environment.
While most people are not exposed to enough of the chemical for it to be harmful, experts recommend some safety tips regarding acetone use and exposure.
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What Has Acetone In It?
This clear, flammable liquid has a distinct smell and taste. Because it evaporates quickly and is easily dissolved in water, acetone has many, different uses.
Cosmetic Uses
Acetone is not generally used in other cosmetic products. However, some temporary hair color, glitter sprays, and at-home false nail glue remover may contain small amounts.
Cleaning Uses
When it comes to household use, acetone is often found in cleaning products. As adeep cleaning agent, acetone may be used for the following:
Check the product label to confirm whether acetone is a listed ingredient in household cleaning products.
Tobacco Product Uses
Smoking products, including tobacco cigarettes andvaping devices, also release acetone when used.Acetone and other chemicals are emitted into the air when smoked (traditional and electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes), so exposure occurs with the person using the tobacco product and anyone in the vicinity who is exposed to secondhand smoke.
Extraction Uses
For these purposes, acetone works because it evaporates quickly, has a low boiling point, is organic and nontoxic in small amounts, and is more cost-effective than other solvents used in extraction processes.
How Naturally Occurring Acetone Differs
Naturally occurring acetone is found in small amounts in the human body and the environment. It differs from the acetone used in household products and other industrial items.
Low acetone levels are usually present in the body from body fat breakdown. In addition, people are exposed to small amounts of acetone from drinking water, eating food, or breathing air containing acetone.
Ketones and KetosisAcetone is a type ofketone, a chemical the body produces when it breaks down fat instead of carbs during themetabolic process.When ketones are produced, it is known asketosis. Some people utilize ketosis as a dietary or weight loss method commonly known as the ketogenic (keto) diet.
Ketones and Ketosis
Acetone is a type ofketone, a chemical the body produces when it breaks down fat instead of carbs during themetabolic process.When ketones are produced, it is known asketosis. Some people utilize ketosis as a dietary or weight loss method commonly known as the ketogenic (keto) diet.
Acetone Safety: What Is Hazardous or Poisonous?
Most people are regularly exposed to small amounts of acetone at levels that aren’t directly harmful.This differs from exposure to higher, more dangerous amounts of acetone, which can be toxic and damaging to the airways, eyes, skin, and internal organs.
Potentially hazardous levels of acetone are present in the following situations:
Other circumstances where some additional acetone exposure may occur include:
Research suggests that the chances of experiencing a life-threatening medical issue from acetone exposure are rare.
A Word From VerywellAcetone is a caustic agent that can disrupt the skin barrier and irritate the eyes, nose, and lungs. For these reasons, acetone should not be used as a main ingredient in skin care products.—BRENDAN CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Acetone is a caustic agent that can disrupt the skin barrier and irritate the eyes, nose, and lungs. For these reasons, acetone should not be used as a main ingredient in skin care products.—BRENDAN CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Acetone is a caustic agent that can disrupt the skin barrier and irritate the eyes, nose, and lungs. For these reasons, acetone should not be used as a main ingredient in skin care products.
—BRENDAN CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Acetone Alternatives
You may be worried about acetone exposure from regular household or cleaning products, but chances are you are already using a safer version of the chemical.
The American Chemical Society (ACS)–grade (or reagent) acetone available to consumers is safer than technical-grade acetone used for industrial purposes. ACS-grade acetone is approved for use in certain medical procedures and pharmaceuticals and as an indirect additive in food packaging.
There are a few anecdotal at-home tactics for those specifically seeking an alternative to nail polish remover. However, these alternatives are not necessarily scientifically proven.
Consider looking into the following:
Steps to Minimizing Acetone Health Risks
Experts recommend a few tips to help minimize your exposure to acetone and any potential health risks. To start, consider reducing the amount of time spent around chemicals overall whenever possible and avoiding smoking tobacco and inhaling secondhand smoke.
When using acetone around the house in cleaning products, take precautions such as:
Summary
Acetone is a chemical found naturally in the environment and the body and is also produced for industrial, cleaning, and household uses. While low levels of exposure to acetone occur on a regular basis from breathing air, drinking water, eating food, and using products containing the chemical, some people who work in industrial careers may be exposed to acetone in greater quantities.
Research suggests that acetone is generally safe in small amounts, and it would be rare to experience a life-threatening medical issue due to acetone exposure. Still, it is a good idea to take some safety precautions when using consumer acetone products, like wearing gloves if applicable, ensuring proper ventilation, avoiding contact with open flames or hot surfaces, and keeping it away from children.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acetone-ToxFAQs.American Academy of Dermatology.Dermatologist’s secret to removing gel nail polish at home.Environmental Working Group.Products containing acetone.National Association of Realtors.8 ways to use nail polish remover to clean your house,Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute International.Acetone.New South Wales Health.Vaping evidence summary.Texas Health and Human Services.What is vaping?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ToxFAQs for acetone.Phipps KR, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Mushonganono J, Baldwin N.Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of an acetone extract of rosemary.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.2021;120:104840. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104840U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Public health statement: Acetone.Scott JM, Deuster PA.Ketones and human performance.J Spec Oper Med. 2017;17(2):112-116. doi:10.55460/PGWG-H55JGershuni VM, Yan SL, Medici V.Nutritional ketosis for weight management and reversal of metabolic syndrome.Curr Nutr Rep. 2018;7(3):97-106. doi:10.1007/s13668-018-0235-0.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Toxicological profile for acetone.Umeh C et al.Acetone ingestion resulting in cardiac arrest and death.Cureus. 2021 Oct 3;13(10):e18466. doi:10.7759/cureus.18466U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acetone-ToxFAQs.American Academy of Dermatology.Dermatologist’s secret to removing gel nail polish at home.Environmental Working Group.Products containing acetone.National Association of Realtors.8 ways to use nail polish remover to clean your house,Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute International.Acetone.New South Wales Health.Vaping evidence summary.Texas Health and Human Services.What is vaping?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ToxFAQs for acetone.Phipps KR, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Mushonganono J, Baldwin N.Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of an acetone extract of rosemary.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.2021;120:104840. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104840U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Public health statement: Acetone.Scott JM, Deuster PA.Ketones and human performance.J Spec Oper Med. 2017;17(2):112-116. doi:10.55460/PGWG-H55JGershuni VM, Yan SL, Medici V.Nutritional ketosis for weight management and reversal of metabolic syndrome.Curr Nutr Rep. 2018;7(3):97-106. doi:10.1007/s13668-018-0235-0.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Toxicological profile for acetone.Umeh C et al.Acetone ingestion resulting in cardiac arrest and death.Cureus. 2021 Oct 3;13(10):e18466. doi:10.7759/cureus.18466U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acetone-ToxFAQs.American Academy of Dermatology.Dermatologist’s secret to removing gel nail polish at home.Environmental Working Group.Products containing acetone.National Association of Realtors.8 ways to use nail polish remover to clean your house,Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute International.Acetone.New South Wales Health.Vaping evidence summary.Texas Health and Human Services.What is vaping?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ToxFAQs for acetone.Phipps KR, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Mushonganono J, Baldwin N.Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of an acetone extract of rosemary.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.2021;120:104840. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104840U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Public health statement: Acetone.Scott JM, Deuster PA.Ketones and human performance.J Spec Oper Med. 2017;17(2):112-116. doi:10.55460/PGWG-H55JGershuni VM, Yan SL, Medici V.Nutritional ketosis for weight management and reversal of metabolic syndrome.Curr Nutr Rep. 2018;7(3):97-106. doi:10.1007/s13668-018-0235-0.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Toxicological profile for acetone.Umeh C et al.Acetone ingestion resulting in cardiac arrest and death.Cureus. 2021 Oct 3;13(10):e18466. doi:10.7759/cureus.18466U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Acetone-ToxFAQs.
American Academy of Dermatology.Dermatologist’s secret to removing gel nail polish at home.
Environmental Working Group.Products containing acetone.
National Association of Realtors.8 ways to use nail polish remover to clean your house,
Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute International.Acetone.
New South Wales Health.Vaping evidence summary.
Texas Health and Human Services.What is vaping?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ToxFAQs for acetone.
Phipps KR, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Mushonganono J, Baldwin N.Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of an acetone extract of rosemary.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.2021;120:104840. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104840
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Public health statement: Acetone.
Scott JM, Deuster PA.Ketones and human performance.J Spec Oper Med. 2017;17(2):112-116. doi:10.55460/PGWG-H55J
Gershuni VM, Yan SL, Medici V.Nutritional ketosis for weight management and reversal of metabolic syndrome.Curr Nutr Rep. 2018;7(3):97-106. doi:10.1007/s13668-018-0235-0.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Toxicological profile for acetone.
Umeh C et al.Acetone ingestion resulting in cardiac arrest and death.Cureus. 2021 Oct 3;13(10):e18466. doi:10.7759/cureus.18466
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
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