Carcinogenic property of JBO(P) variety of jute batching oil

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

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.

Role of GSSG-reductase and a thiol oxidant diethylmaleate (DEM) in skin tumorigenesis induced by jute batching oil

Single topical application of jute batching oil (JBO-P) elevated the status of enzyme GSSG-reductase in mouse skin and multiple applications produced a persistent increase in the enzyme levels. Also an increase in NADPH-dependent GSSG-reductase activity was registered after single topical application of known carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), e.g. benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), 7,12-dimethyl-benzanthracene (DMBA) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). This suggests that the change in GSSG-reductase activity induced by JBO-P is intrinsic to its tumorigenic activity rather than the toxic effect of the oil. Pretreatment of mouse skin with diethylmaleate (DEM), an SH-inactivating agent, increases the latent period of JBO-P induced tumorigenesis. No tumour was recorded in animals belonging to Group IV (DEM + JBO) while in animals belonging to Group II (JBO-P alone) 100% tumorigenesis was recorded during the period of study (i.e. up to 20 wk).

Evaluation of carcinogenic effect of jute batching oil (JBO-P) fractions following topical application to mouse skin

Jute batching oil (JBO-P), a mineral oil fraction used in the processing of jute fibers, was, as reported in our earlier studies, found to be tumorigenic following repeated topical application to mouse skin. In the present investigation an attempt has been made to identify the carcinogenic constituents of this oil. The JBO was fractionated into (1) PAH free fraction, (2) fraction containing two- and three-ring PAHs and (3) more than three-ring PAH fractions by an enrichment procedure. These three JBO fractions along with unfractionated and reconstituted oil were then subjected to the in vivo assay of complete carcinogenic activity of JBO-P and its fractions following its topical application to mouse skin. The results showed that only unfractionated and reconstituted JBO-P samples per se were able to produce benign skin tumours, while all the other three fractions, i.e. PAH-free fraction, two- and three-ring PAH-containing fraction and more than three-ring PAH-containing fraction failed to produce tumours up to 40 weeks after application. In an extended study, mice belonging to the groups exposed to various fractions of JBO were promoted with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent skin tumour promoter, for the two stage initiation-promotion protocol for skin carcinogenesis. After 14 weeks of promotion with TPA, all the surviving animals exposed to the fraction having more than three-ring PAHs developed benign tumours on their backs, while the other two fractions failed to do so.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)