Castor oil

Agent Name
Castor oil
CAS Number
8001-79-4
Formula
Unspecified
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
Optase; Trypsin complex; Venelex; Xenaderm; Aromatic castor oil; Castor oil (Ricinus communis L.); Castor oil aromatic; Cosmetol; Crystal O; DB Oil; Gold bond; LAVCO; Neoloid; Oil of Palma christi; Oleum Ricini; Olio di ricino [Italian]; Palma christi oil; Phorbyol; Ricini oleum; Ricinol; Ricinus communis oil; Ricinus oil; Ricirus oil; Tangantangan oil; Vegetable oil; Viscotrol C; [ChemIDplus]
Category
Plant Oils and Extracts
Description
Pale yellow viscous liquid; [Merck Index] Colorless viscous liquid; [ICSC] Light yellow to green oily liquid; [CHRIS]
Sources/Uses
A triglyceride of fatty acids from the seeds of Ricinus communis that is approximately 87% ricinoleic acid; Used to make soap and in metal-drawing lubricants, hydraulic fluids, rubber preservatives, mold lubricants, embalming fluids, cosmetics, and Turkey-red oil (sulfated castor oil) for dyeing and finishing textiles; Also used as dehydrated castor oil (in alkyds, resinous copolymers, varnishes, oil-based paints, enamels, calks, and putties); as blown or oxidized oil (for plasticizing oilcloth, artificial leather, coated fabrics, and lacquers); to plasticize rosin in sticky fly-paper manufacture; and in coating systems, hot melts, duplicating and stencil inks, adhesives, laminants, and releasing agents; [Merck Index] Formerly registered in the US for use as a repellant for domestic and wild animals and in one disinfectant product; [NPIRS] Permitted for use as an inert ingredient in non-food pesticide products; [EPA] Used as a folk remedy to hasten the onset of labor; [REPROTOX] Used as an anticaking agent, drying agent, emulsifier, flavoring agent or adjuvant, lubricant or release agent, and solvent or vehicle in foods; [FDA]
Comments
A mild eye and mild to severe skin irritant; Causes effects on menstrual cycle, oogenesis, and effects on the uterus, cervix, or vagina in acute intramuscular studies of rats; Causes diarrhea in acute oral studies of rats and mice; [RTECS] A gastrointestinal tract irritant; [ICSC] A skin and eye irritant; [HSDB] Causes severe diarrhea on ingestion; [CHRIS] No significant adverse effects observed in mice or rats in 13-week oral studies at dietary concentrations as high as 10%; [NTP] Acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0-0.7 mg/kg; [JECFA] May cause irritation; [Acros Organics MSDS]
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

NFPA
must be preheated

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent