ABSTRACT
3-Pentanone is a naturally occurring chemical; it is found in plants as well as some foods such as chicken and fruits. If released on soil, 3-pentanone will both evaporate into the atmosphere and leach into the ground. Leaching may not be important if concurrent biodegradation occurs rapidly. If released into surface water, 3-pentanone will be lost primarily by biodegradation and volatilization. 3-Pentanone has been detected, but not quantified, in recently deposited sediment beneath a reed bed in Lake Constance, Switzerland. The maximum concentrations were found adjacent to zones of former reed growth, suggesting that 3-pentanone was formed by microbial processes. Sediment cores at 3 shallow sites from Walvis Bay off the arid coast of Southwest Africa were analyzed for 3-pentanone and other chemicals. 3-Pentanone has been identified as a volatile component of raw chicken breast, nectarines and kiwi fruit.
