MINERAL OIL
Fragrance Ingredient; Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent - Emollient;Skin-Conditioning Agent - Occlusive; Skin Protectant; Solvent; ANTISTATIC; PERFUMING; SKIN PROTECTING
Also listed as
DEOBASE; HEAVY MINERAL OIL; LIGHT MINERAL OIL; LIQUID PARAFFIN; LIQUID PETROLATUM; PARAFFIN OIL; PARAFFIN OILS; PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM; PROLATUM OIL; WHITE MINERAL OIL, PETROLEUM; PETROLEUM WHITE MINERAL OIL
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps |
|
See products containing MINERAL OIL | |
About MINERAL OIL: Mineral Oil is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. In the United States,Mineral Oil may be used as an active ingredient in OTC drug products. When used as an active drugingredient, the established name is Mineral Oil. Se e "Regulatory and Ingredient Use Information,"regarding use of EU Trivial names in Volume 1, Introduction, Part A. See "Regulatory and Ingredient UseInformation," regarding the labeling names for U.S. OTC Drug Ingredients in Volume 1, Introduction, Part A.
MINERAL OIL has reported used in the following product types: moisturizer (561); lip gloss (303); foundation (230); eye shadow (227); facial moisturizer/treatment (220); hair color and bleaching (206); lipstick (192); concealer (171); styling gel/lotion (168); facial powder (148)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible human immune system toxicant | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible carcinogen | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries 1979 |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 1,165 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | MINERAL OIL | • o |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | CUTTING OILS | • Asthmagen |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | MINERAL OIL, WHITE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | PARAFFIN OILS | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | PARAFFIN OILS | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | OIL MIST, MINERAL | •Asthma - Reversible bronchoconstriction (narrowing of bronchioles) initiated by the inhalation of irritating or allergenic agents: Yes; •Fibrogenic - Inducing tissue injury and fibrosis (scarring): Yes; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 5 mg/m3; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 10 mg/m3; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 5 mg/m3; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 1: must be preheated; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 2500 mg/m3; |
| National Toxicology Program, 2002 | OIL MIST, MINERAL | •Cancer hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | MINERAL OIL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | MINERAL OIL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | MINERAL OIL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | MINERAL OIL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1965 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - skin tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Archiv fuer Toxikologie 1973 | MINERAL OIL | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1978 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TD) |
| RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries 1979 | MINERAL OIL | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries 1979 | MINERAL OIL | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Immunology 1969 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TD) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer 1970 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TD) • immune system - Decreased immune response (mouse TD) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Immunology 1962 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TD) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | MINERAL OIL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | MINERAL OIL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Nature 1962 | MINERAL OIL | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TDLo) • mutagenic - respiratory tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | National Toxicology Program. 10th Report on Carcinogens (2002). http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/roc/toc10.html |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 1918- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1965 | RTECS®- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. (New York Academy of Sciences, 2 E. 63rd St., New York, NY 10021) V.1- 1877- 132,439,1965 |
| RTECS®- Archiv fuer Toxikologie 1973 | RTECS®- Archiv fuer Toxikologie. (Berlin, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.15-31, 1954-74. For publisher information, see ARTODN. 30,243,1973 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1978 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 1941- 38,703,1978 |
| RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries 1979 | RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries. (Allured Pub. Corp., POB 318, Wheaton, IL 60189) V.91- 1976- 94(8),41,1979 |
| RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries 1979 | RTECS®- Cosmetics and Toiletries. (Allured Pub. Corp., POB 318, Wheaton, IL 60189) V.91- 94(8),41,1979 |
| RTECS®- Immunology 1969 | RTECS®- Immunology. (Blackwell Scientific Pub., 52 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108) V.1- 1958- 17,481,1969 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer 1970 | RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer. (International Union Against Cancer, 3 rue du Conseil- General, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland) V.1- 1966- 6,422,1970 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Immunology 1962 | RTECS®- Journal of Immunology. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- -1916 92,747,1962 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. LMF-69 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. LMF-69 |
| RTECS®- Nature 1962 | RTECS®- Nature. (Nature Subscription Dept., POB 1018, Manasguan, NJ 08736) V.1- 1869- 193,1086,1962 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
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