Editing Hexane (section)

== Safety ==
Inhalation of ''n''-hexane at 5000&nbsp;ppm for 10&nbsp;minutes produces marked vertigo; 2500-1000&nbsp;ppm for 12 hours produces [[drowsiness]], [[Fatigue (medical)|fatigue]], loss of appetite, and [[paresthesia]] in the distal extremities; 2500–5000&nbsp;ppm produces muscle weakness, cold pulsation in the extremities, blurred vision, [[headache]], and [[Anorexia (symptom)|anorexia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+91|publisher=[[National Library of Medicine]]|work=Toxicology data network Hazardous Substances Data Bank|title=N-HEXANE|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904103024/http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+91|archive-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> Chronic occupational exposure to elevated levels of ''n''-hexane has been demonstrated to be associated with [[peripheral neuropathy]] in [[Auto mechanic|auto mechanics]] in the US, and [[neurotoxicity]] in workers in printing presses, and shoe and furniture factories in Asia, Europe, and North America.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)|date=2001-11-16|title=n-Hexane-related peripheral neuropathy among automotive technicians--California, 1999-2000|journal=MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report|volume=50|issue=45|pages=1011–1013|issn=0149-2195|pmid=11724159}}</ref>

The US [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) has set a [[recommended exposure limit]] (REL) for hexane isomers (not ''n''-hexane) of 100 ppm ({{Convert|350|mg/m3|abbr=on}}) over an 8-hour workday.<ref>{{Cite web|title = CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards – Hexane isomers (excluding n-Hexane)|url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0323.html|work = cdc.gov|access-date = 2015-11-03|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151031004609/http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0323.html|archive-date = 31 October 2015}}</ref> However, for ''n''-hexane, the current NIOSH REL is 50 ppm ({{Convert|180|mg/m3|abbr=on|}}) over an 8-hour workday.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=n-Hexane|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0322.html|last=CDC|date=2018-03-28|website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|language=en-us|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> This limit was proposed as a [[permissible exposure limit]] (PEL) by the [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] in 1989; however, this PEL was overruled in US courts in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appendix G: 1989 Air Contaminants Update Project - Exposure Limits NOT in Effect|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/nengapdxg.html|date=2020-02-20|website=www.cdc.gov|language=en-us|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> The current n-hexane PEL in the US is 500 ppm ({{Convert|1800|mg/m3|abbr=on|}}).<ref name=":0" />

Hexane and other volatile hydrocarbons ([[petroleum ether]]) present an [[Aspiration pneumonia|aspiration]] risk.<ref>{{citation | author=Gad, Shayne C | contribution=Petroleum Hydrocarbons | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | edition=2nd | volume=3 | publisher=Elsevier | year=2005 | pages=377–379}}</ref> ''n''-Hexane is sometimes used as a [[Denaturation (food)|denaturant]] for alcohol, and as a cleaning agent in the [[textile]], [[furniture]], and leather industries. It is slowly being replaced with other solvents.<ref name="tox">{{cite book | author=Clough, Stephen R | author2=Mulholland, Leyna | contribution=Hexane | title=Encyclopedia of Toxicology | volume=2 | edition=2nd | year=2005 | publisher=Elsevier | pages=522–525}}</ref>

Like gasoline, hexane is highly volatile and is an explosion risk. The 1981 [[Louisville sewer explosions]], which destroyed over {{cvt|13|mi|km}} of sewer lines and streets in Kentucky, were caused by ignition of hexane vapors which had been illegally discharged from a [[soybean]] processing plant owned by [[Ralston-Purina]]. Hexane was attributed as the cause of an explosion that occurred in the [[National University of Río Cuarto]], Argentina on 5 December 2007, due to a hexane spill near a heat-producing machine that exploded, producing a fire that killed one student and injured 24 more.

===Incidents===
[[Occupational safety and health|Occupational]] hexane poisoning has occurred with Japanese sandal workers, Italian shoe workers,<ref>{{Cite journal| pmid = 6249607| year = 1980| last1 = Rizzuto| first1 = N| title = N-hexane polyneuropathy. An occupational disease of shoemakers| journal = European Neurology| volume = 19| issue = 5| pages = 308–15| last2 = De Grandis| first2 = D| last3 = Di Trapani| first3 = G| last4 = Pasinato| first4 = E| doi = 10.1159/000115166}}</ref> Taiwan press proofing workers, and others.<ref>{{citation | title=n-Hexane | series=[[Environmental Health Criteria]] | issue=122 | publisher=World Health Organization | year=1991 | url=http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc122.htm | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319105541/http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc122.htm | archive-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> Analysis of Taiwanese workers has shown occupational exposure to substances including ''n''-hexane.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.5491/SHAW.2012.3.4.257| pmid = 23251841|pmc=3521924| title = Occupational Neurotoxic Diseases in Taiwan| journal = Safety and Health at Work| volume = 3| issue = 4| pages = 257–67| year = 2012| last1 = Liu | first1 = C. H. | last2 = Huang | first2 = C. Y. | last3 = Huang | first3 = C. C. }}</ref> In 2010–2011, Chinese workers manufacturing iPhones were reported to have suffered hexane poisoning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/26/3048024.htm |title=Workers poisoned while making iPhones – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2010-10-26 |access-date=2015-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408171509/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/26/3048024.htm |archive-date=8 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/technology/23apple.html?pagewanted=all|title=Workers Sickened at Apple Supplier in China|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 February 2011|author=David Barboza|access-date=2015-03-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407173034/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/technology/23apple.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

===Biotransformation===
''n''-Hexane is biotransformed to [[2-hexanol]] and further to [[2,5-hexanediol]] in the body.  The conversion is catalyzed by the enzyme [[cytochrome P450]] utilizing oxygen from air. 2,5-Hexanediol may be further oxidized to [[2,5-hexanedione]], which is [[neurotoxicity|neurotoxic]] and produces a [[polyneuropathy]].<ref name="tox"/> In view of this behavior, replacement of ''n''-hexane as a solvent has been discussed.   [[heptane|''n''-Heptane]] is a possible alternative.<ref>{{cite book | date = 1996 | volume = 387 | pages = 411–427 |vauthors=Filser JG, Csanády GA, Dietz W, Kessler W, Kreuzer PE, Richter M, Störmer A | title = Biological Reactive Intermediates V | chapter = Comparative Estimation of the Neurotoxic Risks of N-Hexane and N-Heptane in Rats and Humans Based on the Formation of the Metabolites 2,5-Hexanedione and 2,5-Heptanedione | pmid=8794236| doi = 10.1007/978-1-4757-9480-9_50 | series = Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology | isbn = 978-1-4757-9482-3 }}</ref>