Mineral oil in food, cosmetic products, and in products regulated by other legislations.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8914275 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1547-6898 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10408444 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Crit Rev Toxicol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: Boca Raton, Fla. : CRC Press, c1980-

Cosmetics* ; Food Contamination* ; Mineral Oil*; Animals ; Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons/analysis ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/analysis

For a few years, mineral oils and their potential adverse health effects have been a constant issue of concern in many regulatory areas such as food, cosmetics, other consumer products, and industrial chemicals. Analytically, two fractions can be distinguished: mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). This paper aims at assessing the bioaccumulative potential and associated histopathological effects of MOSH as well as the carcinogenic potential of MOAH for consumer-relevant mineral oils. It also covers the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of MOSH and MOAH upon oral and dermal exposures. The use and occurrence of consumer-relevant, highly refined mineral oils in food, cosmetics and medicinal products are summarized, and estimates for the exposure of consumers are provided. Also addressed are the challenges in characterizing the substance identity of mineral oil products under REACH. Evidence from more recent autopsy and biopsy studies, along with information on decreasing food contamination levels, indicates a low risk for adverse hepatic lesions that may arise from the retention of MOSH in the liver. With respect to MOAH, at present there is no indication of any carcinogenic effects in animals dermally or orally exposed to highly refined mineral oils and waxes. Such products are used not only in cosmetics but also in medicinal products and as additives in food contact materials. The safety of these mineral oil-containing products is thus indirectly documented by their prevalent and long-term use, with a simultaneous lack of clinical and epidemiological evidence for adverse health effects.

Comment in: Crit Rev Toxicol. 2020 Mar;50(3):272-275. doi: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1749830. (PMID: 32484074)
Comment in: Crit Rev Toxicol. 2020 Mar;50(3):276-277. doi: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1749831. (PMID: 32484075)

Keywords: CLP; Mineral oil; REACH; accumulation; aromatic hydrocarbons; carcinogenicity; consumer safety; cosmetics; food; granuloma; liver; lymph nodes; pharmaceuticals; saturated hydrocarbons; spleen

0 (Cosmetics)
0 (Hydrocarbons)
0 (Hydrocarbons, Aromatic)
8020-83-5 (Mineral Oil)

Date Created: 20200116 Date Completed: 20200421 Latest Revision: 20200421

20250114

10.1080/10408444.2019.1694862

31939687