Have you ever used nail polish remover? Or have you ever seen a nail polish remover? The reason for the strong smell that comes from them is a chemical called acetone. But the surprising thing is that this acetone is also produced naturally in your and my bodies. Today, we will talk about this, that is, about the acetone in bottles and the acetone that is produced in our bodies.
How is acetone produced inside our body?
Simply put, our body is like a car. This car needs energy, or fuel, to run. The main fuel for our body is the sugar, or glucose, found in the food we eat. After we eat, a hormone called insulin takes this glucose from the blood and gives it to the body's cells to make energy. It's like filling the tank with gasoline.
But imagine, what happens if someone with diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) does not produce enough insulin in the body, or if someone continues to eat a diet low in carbohydrates? Then the body is unable to use glucose, its main fuel.
So, what does the body do? It doesn't just sit there. When the main fuel is gone, the body goes to the second option. That is, burning the fat stored in the body to create energy.
When our liver burns fat, it produces a group of chemicals called ketones as a byproduct. Acetone is one such ketone.
When the body uses fat as fuel, these ketones are produced in excess. We call this state ketosis. But there are two types of this ketosis: dangerous and normal.
| Type of Ketosis | Description |
|---|---|
| Nutritional Ketosis | This happens when someone is on a very low-carb diet. This is relatively common. Some people also use this method to lose weight. In this case, ketone levels are at a manageable level. |
| Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) | This is an extremely dangerous and emergency medical condition . This is when a person with uncontrolled diabetes has very high ketone levels in their body, causing the blood to become acidic. This can be life-threatening. |
If you have too many ketones in your body, they will be excreted in your urine. That's why doctors check the urine of someone with uncontrolled diabetes for ketones. If they are, it means they need more insulin to control their blood sugar.
Acetone as a chemical and its uses
Acetone is a colorless, liquid. It is naturally present in the environment. Acetone is released into the environment from things like trees, volcanoes, forest fires, vehicle exhaust, and cigarette smoke.
It is also used in many industries as a solvent. A solvent is something that can dissolve another substance. That's why acetone is used to remove paint, varnish, and nail polish.
What are the health risks of acetone?
Acetone can be present in very small amounts in the air we normally breathe. It is not harmful to us. However, exposure to acetone in high concentrations can cause health problems.
- If you work in a factory that uses acetone.
- By drinking or eating contaminated water mixed with acetone.
- By smoking or being around someone who smokes (second-hand smoke).
- When using products containing acetone at home.
Most importantly, acetone is a highly flammable substance , so when using something like nail polish remover, do not place it near open flames, candles, or stoves.
If acetone gets on your skin, it can dry out and crack. So if that happens, you should wash it off immediately with soap.
| How to be exposed | Possible symptoms |
|---|---|
| Inhaling too much | Inflammation of the nose, eyes, and lungs, sore throat, cough, dizziness, headache, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and loss of consciousness. |
| Swallowing too much | Headache, confusion, nausea, rapid pulse, changes in blood cells, loss of consciousness, coma. |
Let's learn about the long-term effects
There is still little clear research on the effects of long-term exposure to acetone in humans, but studies in animals show that long-term exposure can damage the kidneys and liver, and damage the nervous system.
How to protect yourself from these problems?
- If you have diabetes: Take your medications exactly as your doctor tells you to. Don't skip meals. Check your blood sugar levels regularly. Talk to your doctor about your diet and make adjustments as needed.
- Avoid smoking: Cigarette smoke releases acetone, so avoid smoking and being around people who smoke.
- When using products: When using products containing acetone, do so in a well-ventilated area (e.g., with windows open, outdoors). If it comes into contact with skin, wash it off immediately.
What to do if someone drinks acetone by mistake?
This is very important. Especially if there is a small child at home, you should keep these things out of reach of children. But if someone, especially a child, accidentally drinks something containing acetone, don't panic at all.
What to do immediately: Call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Otherwise, take the patient to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
Be prepared to give the following information to the doctor or poison control center:
- Patient's name, age and weight.
- The name of the product being used (e.g., a bottle of nail polish remover).
- Amount drunk (approximate).
- How long has it been since this happened?
Very important: Do not try to induce vomiting without medical advice. A person with acetone poisoning may have a sweet/fruity smell on their breath.
Take-Home Message
- Acetone is a chemical used to remove nail polish, as well as a natural substance produced by our bodies when they burn fat.
- Acetone produced in the body is a type of ketone.
- Ketoacidosis is a very dangerous condition for people with uncontrolled diabetes and requires immediate medical attention.
- When using products containing acetone, it is important to use them in a well-ventilated area and avoid contact with the skin.
- If acetone is accidentally ingested, call the National Poison Information Center immediately or go to a hospital emergency room.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න