Petrolatum (Mineral Oil)
Also: petroleum jelly · mineral oil · paraffin · white petrolatum · liquid paraffin · Vaseline
Acceptable from reputable brands — cosmetic-grade petrolatum is well-refined; the 'petroleum byproduct' framing online overstates the real risk.
Testosterone & hormonal load
The endocrine concern for petrolatum centers on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in insufficiently refined grades. Cosmetic-grade petrolatum must be highly refined, and IARC considers untreated or mildly treated mineral oils carcinogenic (Group 1), but fully refined mineral oils used in cosmetics are classified as Group 3 (not classifiable as carcinogenic). No direct testosterone effects have been established for properly refined cosmetic petrolatum.
Found in.
Two jurisdictions, two different verdicts.
Fully refined petrolatum permitted in cosmetics (EU Regulation EC 1223/2009). Mineral oil classification depends on refining grade. Hydrocarbons must meet purity standards.
White petrolatum is FDA-approved as an OTC skin protectant. Mineral oil is GRAS for food use. Both are approved for cosmetic use.
The receipts.
- [01]IARC Monographs Vol. 33 — Carbon blacks, mineral oils and some nitroarenespublications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Polynuclear-Aromatic-Compounds-Part-2-Carbon-Blacks-Mineral-Oils-And-Some-Nitroarenes-1984
- [02]CIR Final Report — Safety assessment of petrolatumwww.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/petrolatum042013FR.pdf
- [03]EU CosIng — Petrolatum entryec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/details/34833
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