On 2015 Jul 10, David Keller commented:

"Natural" skin products made from organic castor bean oil may be no safer than petroleum jelly

Castor bean oil shares many properties with petroleum jelly (petrolatum), including the ability to form a stable oily shield on dry,burned or injured skin. Unlike petrolatum, castor bean oil does not contain traces of hydrocarbons of the type associated with harm to Parkinson's patients. However, castor beans contain ricin, a highly neuro-toxic, naturally occurring lectin. A dose of purified ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult human (1). Castor beans must be heated and cooked in order to extract the oil, and this heating is also relied upon to denature the ricin in the beans, allegedly making it harmless.

Skin products which contain improperly distilled petrolatum may be contaminated with toxic hydrocarbons; "organic and all-natural" products made from improperly extracted castor bean oil may contain traces of neurotoxic ricin. Thousands of cosmetics, prescription skin medications and over-the-counter creams and ointments contain petrolatum or castor oil. One hopes that the FDA is inspecting the production facilities rigorously.

Reference:

1: Homeland Security News, Frequently Asked Questions about Ricin. Accessed 7/10/2015. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/ricin/

On 2015 Jan 19, David Keller commented:

Petroleum jelly can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; what risks are posed?

Petrolatum (also called petroleum jelly) is commonly applied to the skin as an emollient to treat dryness, chapping, sunburn, mild thermal burns, and "diaper rash" in babies. It is also used as a vehicle for topical ointments and cosmetics. Mineral oil, a related product also known as liquid petrolatum, is actually ingested as a laxative. Both of these preparations start out containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which must be refined out by distillation. PAHs have been found to be carcinogenic in vitro and, for this reason, the European Union has classified petrolatum as a carcinogen; it can only be sold if its full refining history is known to be satisfactory.

To what degree do PAHs and other hydrocarbon contaminants or constituents of petrolatum cross the skin to enter the bloodstream, and then cross the blood-brain barrier? Does exposure to these hydrocarbons increase the risk of Parkinson's disease? Until their safety is tested, petrolatum, mineral oil and products containing them should be avoided, and replaced with products made from vegetable oils, fats and waxes.

On 2015 Jan 19, David Keller commented:

Petroleum jelly can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; what risks are posed?

Petrolatum (also called petroleum jelly) is commonly applied to the skin as an emollient to treat dryness, chapping, sunburn, mild thermal burns, and "diaper rash" in babies. It is also used as a vehicle for topical ointments and cosmetics. Mineral oil, a related product also known as liquid petrolatum, is actually ingested as a laxative. Both of these preparations start out containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which must be refined out by distillation. PAHs have been found to be carcinogenic in vitro and, for this reason, the European Union has classified petrolatum as a carcinogen; it can only be sold if its full refining history is known to be satisfactory.

To what degree do PAHs and other hydrocarbon contaminants or constituents of petrolatum cross the skin to enter the bloodstream, and then cross the blood-brain barrier? Does exposure to these hydrocarbons increase the risk of Parkinson's disease? Until their safety is tested, petrolatum, mineral oil and products containing them should be avoided, and replaced with products made from vegetable oils, fats and waxes.

On 2015 Jul 10, David Keller commented:

"Natural" skin products made from organic castor bean oil may be no safer than petroleum jelly

Castor bean oil shares many properties with petroleum jelly (petrolatum), including the ability to form a stable oily shield on dry,burned or injured skin. Unlike petrolatum, castor bean oil does not contain traces of hydrocarbons of the type associated with harm to Parkinson's patients. However, castor beans contain ricin, a highly neuro-toxic, naturally occurring lectin. A dose of purified ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult human (1). Castor beans must be heated and cooked in order to extract the oil, and this heating is also relied upon to denature the ricin in the beans, allegedly making it harmless.

Skin products which contain improperly distilled petrolatum may be contaminated with toxic hydrocarbons; "organic and all-natural" products made from improperly extracted castor bean oil may contain traces of neurotoxic ricin. Thousands of cosmetics, prescription skin medications and over-the-counter creams and ointments contain petrolatum or castor oil. One hopes that the FDA is inspecting the production facilities rigorously.

Reference:

1: Homeland Security News, Frequently Asked Questions about Ricin. Accessed 7/10/2015. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/ricin/