SECTOR FOCUS
Are mineral oils safe for human health?
An examination of the safety considerations of mineral oils from Concawe
In the past months, some concerns regarding the presence of mineral oils in cosmetics and in food contact material were reported in various European media. Concerns were first raised in Germany in 2016 by an NGO which claimed that everyday foods were contaminated with harmful mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH).
Few months later the same worries were expressed by Belgian and French consumers groups which issued warnings against different cosmetic brands producing lip balms, supposed containing toxic mineral oils.
A number of misunderstandings, incomplete data and in some cases misleading information were reported in the European media and on social media. Understandably, confusion and fear started growing within the European citizens’ leading Consumers’ Association (BEUC)1
This article provides an executive summary of the Review Concawe2
has produced aiming at
answering all the key questions consumers and members of the scientific community might have on mineral oils and on how the Refining industry ensure their safety.
to urge the European Commission
and Member States to closely monitor the issue. This situation also affected brands which have increasingly become defiant in using mineral oils in their products due to the controversy.
While it is factually correct that mineral oils present a carcinogenic potential resulting from some of the aromatic carcinogenic compounds contained in their feedstock, it is also important to understand that these substances are eliminated for food contact material, and in pharmaceutical or cosmetic products by specific refining processes.
Human health is a legitimate concern and requires the highest attention to ensure it is not put at risk. Addressing consumers’ safety concerns related to the use of mineral oils is paramount to the Refining industry which has a long standing tradition of carrying out research on health, environmental and safety issues related to its operations, products and their uses.
From petroleum to mineral oils Mineral oil is a generic term used to group several petroleum derived liquids with “oil-like viscosity” manufactured by atmospheric and vacuum distillation (at temperatures between ~300°C and ~700°C) of crude oil and then further refined. Unrefined crude oil is never used in the formulation of products in contact with the human body or in food related applications. Mineral oils differ in their physical chemical properties (e.g. viscosity) and chemical composition (e.g. aromatic content) and cannot thus be described with a single chemical formula.
The feedstock used in manufacturing mineral oil contains poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are classified as hazardous. However, these compounds are either removed using solvent extraction or converted using catalytic hydrotreatment to produce the refined mineral oils. The remaining aromatics found in the refined mineral oils are mainly 1-2 ring highly alkylated structures, which are not carcinogenic.
White oils and waxes are chemically very inert substances. Substances used for instance, in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical or food contact, are highly refined specialty products derived from petroleum. The use of these highly refined products has a very long history and enjoys an impeccable human safety record. In addition to offering interesting lubricating and moisture barrier properties, they are not allergenic.
Continued on page 18 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.145 JUNE 2018 17
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