tert-Butyl alcohol (CED0002100)

tert-Butyl alcohol (C4H10O) is an organic oxygen compound with an average molecular weight of 74.12 g/mol. tert-Butyl alcohol belongs to the alcohols and polyols, a subclass of organooxygen compounds within the organic compounds. Industrially, the compound is utilized as a solvent, fragrance, solubility enhancer, and as a nutrient and flavouring. The compound is found in or released from 51 recorded sources across various sectors. These include aquatic systems and sediments such as seawater, freshwater, surface water, and groundwater, as well as drinking water and water supply sources including tap water, bottled water, and desalinated water. It is present in wastewater, sanitation, and biosolids, including industrial wastewater, mine wastewater, and wastewater treatment effluent. Other sources include electrical and electronic equipment, such as antennas, amplifiers, auxiliary devices, cores yokes or armatures, and conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials. In the food, food processing and cookware sector, it is associated with food contact materials, the preparation of vinegar, food preservation, processing meats, and fermentation processes for beer. Additionally, it is found in household cleaning and consumer products, specifically tobacco smoke filters, cigar cigarettes, soap detergents, bleaching agents, and perfumes within detergents and soaps. Exposure to tert-butyl alcohol occurs through oral, inhalation, and touch routes. The compound has seven recorded protein targets and acts as an inhibitor of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI1), methionine aminopeptidase 2 (METAP2), ribonuclease pancreatic (RNASE1), and biphenyl-2,3-diol 1,2-dioxygenase (bphC), along with three other proteins.