IS PENTANE A NORMAL CONSTITUENT OF HUMAN BREATH

Breath analysis is a non-invasive method for investigation of the vola tile compounds produced by humans. Pentane has often been taken as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Our purpose in this study was to dete rmine its normal concentration in the breath of healthy humans. Using a specific and sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniqu e pentane concentrations in breath were lower than 10 pmoles/l. The hi gh levels of pentane found by some authors in healthy humans were prob ably due to the coelution of pentane with isoprene, a volatile hydroca rbon present in human breath.