EWG's Guide to
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D

MINERAL OIL

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COMMONLY FOUND IN


SYNONYMS

PETROLEUM WHITE MINERAL OIL, MINERAL OIL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT (PETROLEUM); MINERAL OIL (SATURATED PARRAFIN OIL), PETROLATUM, PETROLEUM OIL, PARAFFIN BASED (PREVIOUSLY CHEMICAL CODE 2045), PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS, PARAFFINIC OIL, MINERAL SEAL OIL, MINERAL OIL, PARAFFIN OIL, PHYTOBLEND PARAFFINIC OIL


RESTRICTED

EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Asthma / Respiratory
  • SOME
    Skin Allergies & Irritation
  • No Data
    Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
  • SOME
    Cancer
  • No Data
    Environment


Top Scoring Factors

Evidence of respiratory effects; biodegradation; general systemic/organ effects


Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
Health Issue Level of Concern Source
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Exposure by all routes should be carefully controlled to levels as low as possible

moderate

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

The European Union Ecolabel program reports this substance is persistent in the environment.

moderate

EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database

Generally accepted as an asthmagen.

moderate

Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC): AOEC Exposure Code List (2020 Update)

suspected human carcinogen

moderate

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

Causes respiratory irritation

some

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

upper respiratory tract irritation

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

Causes skin irritation

some

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

not classifiable as a human carcinogen

low

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database

This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)



Understanding scores

EWG provides information on cleaning product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Healthy Cleaning ingredient hazard score, from A to F, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend


4

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