Cumene

Bureau of Environmental Health
Health Assessment Section
“To protect and improve the health of all Ohioans”

Cumene
Answers to Frequently Asked Health Questions

What is cumene?

How doescumene get in your

Cumene is a colorless, flammable liquid that has body? a sharp, penetrating, gasoline-type odor. Cumene The most likely route of exposure to cumene is is insoluble (does not mixwith water). by breathing contaminated air. The most likely source of contaminated air is the evaporation Where do you find cumene? of petroleum products. Lower exposures may Cumene can be found incrude oil and is a part of result from eating or drinking cumeneprocessed high-octane gasoline. Cumene is used contaminated food or water. as thinner for paints, lacquers and enamels. It is also used inthe manufacture of other chemicals Can cumene make you sick? commonly found in home cleaning products. Exposure to cumene can make you sick. But getting sick will depend on: How much you were exposedto (dose). How long you were exposed (duration). How often you were exposed (frequency). General health, age, lifestyle: Young children, the elderly and people with chronic (on going) health problemsare more at risk to chemical exposures.

How does cumene get into the environment?
Cumene is released into the environment during the petroleum refining process and by the combustion (burning) ofpetroleum products. When using products that contain cumene, evaporation (liquid turning to gas) will release vapors at low levels. Large amounts of cumene can be released to the environment during aspill or leak. Cumene in the air: When released to air, the majority of cumene vapors are expected to chemically react with sunlight and quickly break down. Cumene in the water: When released to surfacewater, cumene volatilizes (turn to gas) and/or biodegrades (breaks down) rapidly. Cumene in the soil: When spilled on soil, cumene is expected to volatilize and biodegrade from the soil surface....