n‐Heptane [BAT Value Documentation, 2010]

N-heptane is taken up by inhalation and, in the first metabolic step in the organism, hydroxylated by cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (Figure 1). The alcohols formed are oxidized further into ketones, diols, hydroxyketones and diketones. The presence of 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, 2-heptanone, 4-heptanone, γ-valerolactone and 2,5heptanedione has been demonstrated in the urine of workers exposed to n-heptane (Perbellini et al. 1986).