Is Acetone Toxic?
At high exposures, ATSDR says it can be. It describes acetone as a man-made chemical that is also found naturally in the environment, a colorless, flammable liquid with a distinct smell and taste that evaporates easily, and says people may be exposed by using products that contain it, such as nail polish remover, or by being in enclosed spaces where those products are used.
ATSDR says breathing or swallowing high amounts of acetone over a short time can cause headaches, confusion, nausea, a racing pulse, changes in the size and amount of blood cells, unconsciousness or coma, that breathing moderate to high amounts can irritate the nose, throat, lungs and eyes, and that skin contact can leave skin dry, irritated and cracked. For workplaces, NIOSH's recommended exposure limit is 250 ppm as a time-weighted average, and OSHA's permissible exposure limit is 1,000 ppm.
For spills, ATSDR says to open a window for proper ventilation and fresh air as the acetone evaporates. The NIOSH Pocket Guide lists immediate eye irrigation, immediate washing of the skin with soap, respiratory support if it is breathed in and immediate medical attention if it is swallowed, and New Jersey's Department of Health says to flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the upper and lower lids and removing contact lenses while rinsing.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceATSDR describes acetone as a man-made chemical also found naturally in the environment, a colorless liquid with a distinct smell and taste that evaporates easily, is flammable and dissolves in water. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says you may be exposed to acetone by using products that contain it, such as nail polish remover, or by being in enclosed environments where these products are used. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says breathing or swallowing high amounts of acetone over a short time can cause headaches, confusion, nausea, racing pulse, unconsciousness or coma, and skin contact can make skin dry, irritated and cracked. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Regulatory filingThe NIOSH Pocket Guide lists a NIOSH recommended exposure limit for acetone of 250 ppm and an OSHA permissible exposure limit of 1,000 ppm, both as time-weighted averages. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says that if you spill a product containing acetone, open a window for proper ventilation and fresh air as the acetone evaporates. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceThe NIOSH Pocket Guide lists first aid for acetone as immediate eye irrigation, immediate soap washing of the skin, respiratory support if breathed in and immediate medical attention if swallowed. NIOSH, CDC ↗
- Government sourceFor acetone in the eyes, New Jersey's Department of Health says to flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the upper and lower lids, and remove contact lenses while rinsing. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.