URINARY-EXCRETION OF N-HEXANE METABOLITES IN RATS AND HUMANS

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. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.