Mineral oils, untreated and mildly treated
Agent Name
Mineral oils, untreated and mildly treated
Major Category
Other Uses
Synonyms
Mineral oil, poorly and mildly refined, excluding metalworking fluids; [ACGIH] Base oils, Mineral base oils; Lubricant base oils; [IARC]
Category
Exposures, Complex
Sources/Uses
Derived from crude oil and consisting of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with carbon numbers of 15 or more and boiling points of 300-600 deg C; "In the past, many mineral oils were only mildly refined and contained significant levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS). . . . In recent decades, acid treatment has largely been replaced by extensive refining with solvent extraction and/or hydro-treatment, which has further reduced the level of PAHs and other contaminants." [Reference #1]
Comments
A Group 1 carcinogen: cancer of the skin; Five large case series of mule-spinners with hundreds of cases of scrotal skin cancer were reported from the 1900s through the 1960s. Pressmen working in wax-manufacturing department from 1937-1956 had 11 cases of scrotal cancer. Tool setters and tool fitters working in England from 1936-1976 had excess cases of scrotal cancer. [Reference #1] See "Oil mist, mineral." See "Mineral oil, pure, highly and severely refined."
Explanatory Notes
Suspected human carcinogen--no TLV-TWA; [ACGIH]
IARC Carcinogen
Established
NTP Carcinogen
Human carcinogen
ACGIH Carcinogen
Suspected Human
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: