Selected Petroleum Products: Environmental Health Criteria 20

This document reviews human health risks from crude oils and three non-fuel groups—petroleum solvents, lubricating base oils/greases/waxes, and bitumen—covering composition, sampling/analytical methods, emission sources, exposure, toxicology, risk evaluation, controls, and research needs. It finds general-population risk low, with hazards concentrated in workplaces through inhalation of vapors, mists, and fumes and through skin contact. Reported effects include CNS depression from high solvent vapors, n-hexane–related peripheral neuropathy, benzene-associated marrow toxicity and leukemia, irritant and defatting dermatitis, oil acne, and PAH-linked skin cancers from less-refined oils and certain metalworking oils; bitumen shows low toxicity under typical use.