Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BAT value
Purity
Impurities About 1% aromatic content in the
typical product (Exxon 1999)
Use As solvents, to modify viscosity in lubri-
cant oils
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Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 1793
was below 1 mg/kg (Biles et al. 1988). Due to the lower maximum boiling point of
hydrodesulfurized kerosene, an even lower PAH content is to be expected for it. In
addition, studies with deodorized kerosene (boiling range 207272C, 55.2% alipha-
tics, 40.9% alicyclics, 3.9% aromatics), petroleum middle distillates (boiling range
163315C or up to 370C), JP-8 jet fuel, and products free of aromatic compounds
are used in the assessment if their maximum boiling points or maximum chain
lengths are similar to those of petroleum distillates, hydrotreated light.
As mixtures of substances are involved here, concentration data can be given
in ml/m3 only where the mean molar mass is known. Where no explicit conversion
is given in the studies, a molar mass of 170 g/mol is assumed by way of simplifica-
tion for converting mg/m3 into ml/m3 and vice versa; this mass approximately cor-
responds to a chain length of C12.
2 Mechanism of Action
Renal toxicity in male rats is attributed to an 2u accumulation (ECB 2000 a). This
eect is not relevant for humans.
The liver weight gain could be based on an induction of xenobiotic-metabolizing
enzymes.
The skin of CD1-mice was treated with 12, 24, 50 or 100 l of hydrodesulfurized
kerosene or 4 other middle distillates, including a product free of aromatic com-
pounds and n-dodecane on 2 days per week for 2 weeks. All substances are known
promoters of skin tumours in mice and, in this study, caused dose-dependent sub-
acute irritation, epidermal hyperplasia, increased BrdU labelling indices and in-
creased ornithine decarboxylase activities. There was a good correlation between
the tumour-promoting eect of the investigated distillates and the labelling index
as well as ornithine decarboxylase activity (Walborg et al. 1998).
The tumorigenic eects of hydrodesulfurized kerosene and C10C16 alkanes
on the skin of mice are probably connected with the skin cell proliferation caused
by the substances, as it was possible to prevent tumour promotion caused by hy-
drodesulfurized kerosene with the antimitogen dexamethasone. The authors also
did not hold the concurrent inflammation responsible for tumour promotion, as
the correlation between subacute inflammation at early through midstudy interval
weeks and tumor incidence at study termination was poor, so that the inflamma-
tion was more probably a result of tumour promotion. Therefore, the action of
dexamethasone probably does not occur via its anti-inflammatory property (Skisak
1991).
Hydrodesulfurized kerosene as well as middle distillates with higher boiling
points contain such a small proportion of PAH that they were most probably not
the cause of the tumours found in the skin of mice in a long-term study (without
preceding administration of an initiator) (Skisak et al. 1994).
Humans
No toxikokinetic data on petroleum distillates, hydrotreated light are available.
After 4-hour inhalation of white spirit, a hydrocarbon mixture with a low boiling
range, 5560% was absorbed by volunteers (Gill et al. 1991). A similar absorption
can be assumed for petroleum distillates, hydrotreated light.
Animals
In a study with rat skin in diusion cells, a flux of 20 g/cm2 and hour was calcu-
lated for the sum of hydrocarbons contained in a fuel (JP-8, C8C17 aliphatic and
18% aromatic components) (McDougal et al. 2000). From this, an absorption of
40 mg in one hour for a surface area of 2000 cm2 exposed skin could be calculated
(hands and forearms).
3.2 Metabolism
Higher n-alkanes are oxidized to primary alcohols at the terminal C atom, branched
isomers also in the 1 position, the alicyclic compounds at the ring to secondary
alcohols. Thereafter, conjugation of the OH group with glucuronic acid or further
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Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 1795
oxidation to ketones or aldehydes and acids generally occurs. The n-alkyl fatty acids
are subject to -oxidation (see Documentation Naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated
heavy, 2010).
4 Eects in Humans
5.1.1 Inhalation
The RD50 was not attained after exposure of mice to an aerosol consisting of deo-
dorized kerosene at a concentration of 6900 mg/m3 (1000 ml/m3) (Carpenter et al.
1976).
The 4-hour LC50 is above 5200 mg/m3 for hydrodesulfurized kerosene (no
other details; ECB 2000 a).
5.1.2 Ingestion
In rats, the LD50 for a product free of aromatic compounds with a boiling range of
205237C is above 15 000 mg/kg body weight, or above 5000 mg/kg body weight
for hydrodesulfurized kerosene (no other details; ECB 2000 a).
In rabbits, the LD50 is above 2000 mg/kg body weight for hydrodesulfurized kero-
sene. Skin inflammation occurred (ECB 2000 a).
5.2.1 Inhalation
5.2.2 Ingestion
A 13-week study in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 409 was conducted in
SD rats with a product free of aromatic compounds (boiling range: 205237C).
The animals were given 0, 100, 500 or 1000 mg/kg body weight by gavage on
7 days/week. An 2u nephropathy was found in all exposed male animals. From
500 mg/kg body weight and day, changes in the concentrations of glucose, urea
nitrogen and cholesterol and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspar-
tate aminotransferase in the serum (no other details) occurred. In the male animals,
the relative liver weights and the absolute and relative kidney weights were in-
creased from 500 mg/kg body weight and day. In the females, the relative liver
weights were increased, and hepatocellular hypertrophy occurred. At 1000 mg/kg
body weight and day, the absolute liver weights were increased in the females, and
hepatocellular hypertrophy was found in the male rats. All findings were reversible
after 4 weeks (ECB 2000 a). The increased kidney weights can probably be seen in
connection with an accumulation of 2u, which is not relevant for humans. The
increased liver weights are probably attributable to the induction of xenobiotic-me-
tabolizing enzymes. For this eect, the NOAEL is 100 mg/kg body weight and day.
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Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 1797
5.3.1 Skin
In tests carried out according to OECD Test Guideline 404 values of 1.7 to 1.9 for
erythema formation and of 0.70.9 for oedema formation were obtained in rabbits
for products with a boiling range of 153245C. They were thus moderately irritat-
ing, whereas a product with a boiling range of 233263C was only slightly irritating
with corresponding values of 0.7 and 0. In another study according to OECD Test
Guideline 404, a product with a boiling range of 240267C was not irritating to
the skin (no other details) (ECB 2000 a).
50 or 100 l hydrodesulfurized kerosene or a product with an aromatic content
below 0.26% and a boiling range of 244265C (CAS No. 8042-47-5, odourless light
petroleum hydrocarbons) was applied to the skin of mice four times within two
weeks. Macroscopically and microscopically visible irritation, hyperplasia of the
epidermis, proliferation of epidermal cells and an induction of ornithine decarbox-
ylase occurred. Other petroleum distillates were also investigated in this study. Cell
proliferation rate, as a measure of hyperplasia, and the activity of ornithine decar-
boxylase correlated with the tumour-promoting eect better than the severity of
skin irritation (Walborg et al. 1998).
5.3.2 Eyes
In a study with rabbits, a product free of aromatic compounds with a boiling range
of 240267C was not irritating to the eyes (no other details). In the Draize test in
rabbits, hydrodesulfurized kerosene had a primary irritation index of 0.15/110
and was regarded as being slightly irritating to the eyes (ECB 2000 a).
5.5.1 Fertility
Rats were exposed to 0, 106 or 364 ml kerosene/m3, 6 hours daily from days 6 to 15
of gestation. No adverse eects on the dams and no embryotoxic and foetotoxic
eects occurred, nor was the frequency of malformations increased, or the ratio
between the sexes changed. The NOAEC was therefore 364 ml/m3 (ECB 2000 a).
The composition of the kerosene was not given in the secondary source. Due to the
high vapour concentration, apparently a greater portion of hydrocarbons with low
boiling points were also available.
5.6 Genotoxicity
5.6.1 In vitro
A product free of aromatic compounds with a boiling range of 205237C was not
genotoxic in the Salmonella mutagenicity test. The same applied for a product free
of aromatic compounds with a boiling range of 240267C in the chromosome
aberration test with CHO cells. Negative results were obtained with hydrodesul-
furized kerosene in the Salmonella mutagenicity test, in the sister chromatid ex-
change (SCE) assay, and in the mouse lymphoma test in the presence and absence
of metabolic activation (ECB 2000 a).
5.6.2 In vivo
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Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 1799
5.7 Carcinogenicity
After initiation with dimethyl benzanthracene (DMBA) 54 CD-1 mice per group
were exposed epicutaneously to 25, 50 or 100 l undiluted hydrodesulfurized
kerosene twice weekly for 25 weeks. Three animals per group were killed for histo-
pathological examination every three weeks. The incidence of skin tumours was
increased up to 66% in all animals and to 81% in the remaining animals at study
termination. After epicutaneous application of dexamethasone to prevent inflam-
mation and keratosis one hour before application of kerosene, no tumours
occurred. They also did not occur after treatment with initiator only or with the test
substance alone (Skisak 1991).
Hydrodesulfurized kerosene was investigated in an initiation-promotion test
with 30 CD-1 mice per phase. After single epicutaneous application of 50 l per
animal with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate it was found to be a promoter but not
an initiator. With DMBA as initiator, hydrodesulfurized kerosene was tumour-
promoting and caused squamous cell papillomas (in 63% of the animals) and kera-
toacanthomas (in 20%) on the skin (Skisak et al. 1994).
After initiation of ICR/Ha Swiss mice with benzo[a]pyrene, three applications per
week of 25 mg of decane, undecane, tetradecane and hexadecane caused papillomas
after 440 days. The highest tumour rate was obtained with undecane. The tumour-
promoting eect decreased with increasing chain length (Van Duuren and
Goldschmidt 1976).
The tumour-promoting eect of a mixture of C10C14 alkanes (boiling range
193220C) on the skin of CD1-mice after initiation with DMBA was investigated.
The alkane mixture was applied weekly for 52 weeks in a quantity of 75 l. It was
applied to groups of 30 mice either twice weekly in undiluted form, four times per
week as a 50% solution, or seven times per week as a 28.6% solution in a non-irritat-
ing mineral oil. The tumour-promoting eect was attributed to the skin irritation
caused by the alkane mixture, as dilution with the non-irritating mineral oil
reduced both irritation and the number of tumours (Nessel et al. 1999).
Three dermal exposures per week to either decane, undecane, tetradecane or hexa-
decane at 25 mg/animal caused no skin tumours in ICR/Ha Swiss mice after
440 days (Van Duuren and Goldschmidt 1976). Three dermal applications of 50 mg
dodecane/animal per week throughout the life span of C3H mice also produced no
skin tumours (Horton et al. 1957). On the other hand, two unpublished studies re-
ported that dodecane alone produced skin tumours (no other details) in mice after
dermal exposure. The batch used is supposed to have contained impurities from
aromatics (ACC 2004). However, impurities from aromatics as a reason for the tu-
mours is questionable, as petroleum distillates mainly made up of aromatic compo-
nents have been found to be not or only to a minor extent carcinogenic to the skin,
or there was no correlation between the tumour rate obtained and the aromatics
content (see below; Biles et al. 1988; Freeman et al. 1993).
Epicutaneous application of undiluted hydrodesulfurized kerosene at a dose of
50 l/animal twice per week produced a statistically significant increase in the oc-
currence of tumours in 41 C3H-mice who had received the substance for their life-
time (no other details). Of the animals, 36% had squamous cell carcinomas, 2%
squamous cell papillomas and 10% fibrosarcomas of the skin. The median latent
period was 76 weeks (532 days). Untreated mice and animals treated with 50 l
toluene were used as controls, those treated with 0.05% benzo[a]pyrene in toluene
as positive controls. Skin irritation occurred in all treated animals. However,
toluene produced no significant increase in skin tumour incidence (after adminis-
tration for 2 years: no tumours; lifetime application: 6% squamous cell carcinomas
and 2% fibrosarcomas of the skin); skin irritation was also weaker. The other middle
distillates investigated which had higher boiling points (180420C) were also carci-
nogenic to the skin, some of them initiating (ECB 2000 a, b; Skisak et al. 1994).
In the study by Biles et al. (1988) of middle distillates containing aromatics
having higher boiling points (up to 370C), slightly increased incidences of skin
tumours (carcinomas and papillomas) and skin hyperplasia occurred in mice. No
association could be found between the aromatics content and the carcinogenic
activity.
It was seen in mice with 4 middle distillates (boiling range 163315C)that skin
irritation does not always result in skin tumours. Although they resulted in skin
irritation of similar severity, one of the distillates, which consisted almost entirely
of aromatics, did not produce skin tumours. This also confirms the results from
other studies, in which high-aromatic middle distillates were less tumorigenic than
those with low aromatics content. The content of sulfur heterocycles had no eect
on tumorigenicity. These data suggested to the authors that chronic skin irritation
may be necessary but not sucient for skin tumour formation. The actual cause
remained unclear (Freeman et al. 1993).
Liver enzyme induction, local irritation and skin tumours are the critical eects.
CNS eects in volunteers were not investigated, unlike with naphtha (petroleum),
hydrotreated heavy.
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Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light 1801
MAK value. In a study with volunteers, no sensory irritant eects were reported
after 15-minute exposure to the saturated vapour concentration of 20 ml deo-
dorized kerosene/m3 (140 mg/m3). In two 13-week studies with rats, no systemic
findings were discovered at the highest concentration tested of 14 ml deodorized
kerosene/m3 (100 mg/m3) and after administration of 100 mg aromatics-free
hydrocarbons/kg body weight and day by gavage. Liver hypertrophy occurred at
500 mg/kg body weight and day. To extrapolate the oral NOAEL value of 100 mg/
kg body weight and day into a corresponding concentration in air, the species-spe-
cific default factor of 1:4 for toxicokinetic dierences between rats and humans, an
assumed oral absorption of 100%, a body weight of 70 kg, a respiratory volume of
10 m3 and an assumed 60% respiratory absorption for humans must be taken into
account. This results in a corresponding concentration of 291 mg/m3 (about 40 ml/
m3). The MAK value is therefore established at 20 ml/m3. At this concentration, no
sensory irritation occurred with deodorized kerosene in volunteers. The NOAEC
of 14 ml deodorized kerosene/m3 in rats is not contradictory to a MAK value of
20 ml/m3, as no higher concentration was tested and the actual concentration has
supposedly been even higher.
Peak limitation. The derivation of the MAK value is based on the systemic
toxicity. Specific data for establishing an excursion factor are not available. In
analogy to naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy, petroleum distillates, hydro-
treated light are also classified in Peak Limitation Category II, the excursion factor
is established at the default level of 2.
7 References
ACC (American Chemistry Council) (2004) n-Alkane category decane, undecane, dodecane,
http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/n-alkanes/VCCEP n-Alkanes Submission June 17, 2004
revised.pdf
Biles RW, McKee RH, Lewis SC, Scala RA, DePass LR (1988) Dermal carcinogenic activity of
petroleum-derived middle distillate fuels. Toxicology 53: 301314
Carpenter CP, Geary DL Jr, Myers RC, Nachreiner DJ, Sullivan LJ, King JM (1976) Petroleum
hydrocarbon toxicity studies Xl. Animal and human response to vapors of deodorized
kerosene 2. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 36: 443456
ECB (2000 a) Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light. IUCLID dataset, 18.02.2000, ECB, Ispra,
Italy
ECB (2000 b) Kerosine (petroleum), hydrodesulphurised. IUCLID dataset, 18.02.2000, ECB,
Ispra, Italy
Exxon (1999) Material safety data sheet, Exxsol D80, 22.03.1999, Exxon Company, Houston, TX,
USA
Exxon Mobil (2008) Product safety summary, Exxsol D80 fluid,
http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/GPS/ExxsolD80Summary.pdf
Freeman JJ, Federici TM, McKee RH (1993) Evaluation of the contribution of chronic skin
irritation and selected compositional parameters to the tumorigenicity of petroleum middle
distillates in mouse skin. Toxicology 81: 103112
Gill R, Warner HE, Broster CG, Osselton MD, Ramsey JD, Wilson HK, Wilcox AH (1991) The
response of evidential breath alcohol testing instruments with subjects exposed to organic
solvents and gases. II. White spirit and nonane. Med Sci Law 31: 201213
Horton AW, Denman DT, Trosset RP (1957) Carcinogenesis of the skin. II. The accelerating
properties of aliphatic and related hydrocarbons. Cancer Res 17: 758766
McDougal JN, Pollard DL, Weisman W, Garret CM, Miller TE (2000) Assessment of skin
absorption and penetration of JP-8 jet fuel and its components. Toxicol Sci 55: 247255
Multisol (2010) Exxsol D grade dearomatised hydrocarbons,
http://www.multisolgroup.com/Exxsol-D-Grade-Series-Typical-Properties.pdf
Nessel CS, Freeman JJ, Forgash RC, McKee RH (1999) The role of dermal irritation in the skin
tumor promoting activity of petroleum middle distillates. Toxicol Sci 49: 4855
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NICNAS (National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme) (2008) GTL
kerosene, full public report,
http://www.nicnas.gov.au/publications/car/new/std/stdfullr/std1000fr/std1273fr.pdf
Skisak C (1991) The role of chronic acanthosis and subacute inflammation in tumor promotion
in CD-1 mice by petroleum middle distillates. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 109: 399411
Skisak CM, Furedi-Machacek EM, Schmitt SS, Swanson MS, Vernot EH (1994) Chronic and
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Van Duuren BL, Goldschmidt BM (1976) Cocarcinogenic and tumor-promoting agents in
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term biomarkers of tumor promotion in mouse skin treated with petroleum middle distillates.
Toxicol Sci 45: 137145
completed 02.03.2011