Summary
The urinary excretion of n-hexane metaboites was studied in rats which were either treated or not with phenobarbital before n-hexane treatment and in workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane.
A new hexane metabolite, 3-hexanol, and 2-hexanol were found in rat urine, but not in workers' urine. The amount of 2-hexanol excreted during 24 h after n-hexane administration, was equal to 1.2 – l.7 % of the dose. The ratio between 3-hexanol excreted and n-hexane injected was much less than 1 %. Phenobarbital affected 3-hexanol excretion but not 2-hexanol excretion.
The lack of n-hexane metabolites in workers' urine, which can be explained by the low ratio of metabolite excretion to the n-hexane absorbed, suggests that urine analysis is unsuitable for monitoring hexane exposure during work.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Rahman, L.B., Hetland, L.B., Couri, D.: Toxicity and metabolism of methyl-n-butyl ketone. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 2, 95–102 (1976)
Brugnone, F., Perbellini, L., Grigolini, L., Apostoli, P.: Solvent exposure in a shoe upper factory. I and II. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 42, 51–62 (1978), 42, 355–363 (1979)
Di Vincenzo, G.D., Laplan, C.J., Dedinas, J.: Characterization of the metabolites of Methyl-n-butyl ketone, Methyl iso-butyl ketone, and Methyl ethyl ketone in Guinea Pig serum and their clearance. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 36, 511–522 (1976)
Duckett, S., Williams, N., Francis, S.: Peripheral neuropathy associated with inhalation of methyln-butyl ketone. Experientia 30, 1283–1284 (1974)
Ichiara, K., Kusunose, E., Kusunose, M.: Microsomal hydroxylation of decane. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 176, 713–719 (1969)
McDonough, J.R.: Possible neuropathy from methyl-n-butil ketone. N. Engl. J. Med. 290, 695 (1974)
Mendell, J.R.; Saida, K., Ganasia, M.F., Jackson, D.B., Weiss, H., Gardier, R.W., Chrisman, C., Allen, N., Couri, D., O'Neill, J., Hetland, L.: Toxic polyneuropathy produced by methyl-n-butyl ketone. Science 185, 787–789 (1974)
Perbellini, L., De Grandis, D., Semenzato, F., Rizzuto, N., Simonati, A.: An experimental study on the neurotoxicity of n-hexane metabolites: hexanol-1 and hexanol-2. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. (in press)
Peterson, J. A., Kusunose, M., Kusunose, E., Coon, M. J.: Enzymatic-ω-Oxidation. J. Biol. Chem. 242, 4334–4340 (1967)
Raleigh, R.L., Spencer, P.S., Schaumburg, H.H.: Methyl-n-butyl ketone. J. Occup. Med. 17, 286 (1975)
Spencer, P.S., Schaumburg, H.H., Raleigh, R.L., Terhaar, C.J.: Nervous system degeneration produced by the industrial solvent methyl-n-butyl ketone. Arch. Neurol. 32, 219–222 (1975a)
Spencer, P.S., Schaumburg, H.H.: Experimental neuropathy produced by 2,5-hexanedione — a major metabolite of the neurotoxic industrial solvent methyl-n-butyl ketone. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 8, 771–775 (1975b)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Perbellini, L., Brugnone, F., Pastorello, G. et al. Urinary excretion of n-hexane metabolites in rats and humans. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 42, 349–354 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377790
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377790