Mammals, alkanes

Of the halogen nitro alkane compound, bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropan-l,3-diol, 1), proved to be also in agricultural use an active substance with good specific bacterostatic action. Bronopol is a compound with wide antimicrobial action, of low toxicity to mammals (Croshaw et al.. 1964). This compound was originally used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Its acute oral lDjq is 180-400 mg/kg for rats. Bronopol is rapidly excreted in the urine (Naito et al., 1974). 

Tomy GT, Muir DCG, Stem GA, Westmore JB (2000) Levels of C10-C13 polychloro-n-alkanes in marine mammals from the Arctic and the St Lawrence River estuary. Environ Sci Technol 34 1615-1619... 

Remarkably little is known concerning the nature and distribution of alkanes in mammals. Usually less than 1%, if any, of mammalian waxes are hydrocarbons (compared with up to 90% of insect cutin) and when alkanes do occur in waxes and in fats the pattern is very complex " . This may be the result of the accumulation in the fat tissues of alkanes from a variety of dietary sources. Egg, duck and chicken fat contain predominantly C20 to C23 alkanes whereas lard and meat fats generally include small amounts of the C25 to C31 compounds Bovine tissues (e.g. liver, heart) contain n-Ci2 to n-C3i alkanes and phytane " ". The surface lipids of human skin contain up to 1% alkanes in a range C15-C35 which shows widespread variations between subjects. C-dating for these alkanes showed an age ca 30,000 years consistent with contamination with petroleum products from the environment... 

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that mammals can synthesize alkanes de novo. The... 

---