Is WD-40 Safe?

audiman08 · 11-18-2009, 05:34 PM

I was reading an article today which claimed that exposure to WD-40 can lead to cancer. WD-40's website naturally denies this, saying their product contains no "known" cancer causing agents...while saying the specific ingredients are secret. Another website claims it's aliphatic petroleum distillates and petroleum base oil in aerosol..whatever that is. Anyway, I know I've gotten the stuff on my hands and maybe breathed a little vapor from time to time (while working on the Porsche not huffing it mind you). Does anyone have a chemical engineering background? Maybe I'm just paranoid

Chaos Theory · Chaos Theory's Garage

I think you'll be fine, I'm sure we've all accidentally ingested worse.

legion · 11-18-2009, 05:36 PM

Oh, I thought this thread was going to be about smoking WD-40 in your crack pipe...

I don't have an answer to your question.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Just paranoid, been using it for over 25 years, including to clean heavy grease off my hands and no cancer here..

trekkor · 11-18-2009, 05:42 PM

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure *everything* causes cancer....

KT

DanielDudley · 11-18-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Just paranoid, been using it for over 25 years, including to clean heavy grease off my hands and no cancer here..

Same here, although I gave up washing in it.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I have known plenty of people who claimed WD 40 made their arthritic joints feel better. I believe rubbing it on a knee was what I heard most. Never knew any of them to get cancer, but only knew them about 10 years.

Most of them were from what we referred to as the "Barefoot Triangle" in the ER when I was a resident. It is an area bordered by Splendora, New Caney and Porter, NE of Houston, TX. This was in reference to their being barefoot on arrival. Trust and believe you do not want to walk around an emergency room barefoot

They made a lot of crystal meth in Splendora.

audiman08 · 11-18-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Oh, I thought this thread was going to be about smoking WD-40 in your crack pipe...

I don't have an answer to your question.

lol, I'm sure someones tried it..

924slover · 11-18-2009, 05:56 PM

breathing air causes cancer.
driving old cars causes cancer
listening to a political debate causes cancer ( may be true)
motorcycles cause cancer
etc
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.
.
.
.
you get my point

audiman08 · 11-18-2009, 06:02 PM

Yeah, I guess every year scientists come up with some new carcinogenic. If some of you have been using it for 25 years and are still alive...maybe I'm safe

924slover · 11-18-2009, 06:10 PM

I've been using it for years and have accidentally gotten it in my nose, mouth, eyes all the time (working under trucks) although it stings in the eyes there is no cancer risk.

Looking_for_911 · 11-18-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

I have known plenty of people who claimed WD 40 made their arthritic joints feel better. I believe rubbing it on a knee was what I heard most. Never knew any of them to get cancer, but only knew them about 10 years.

Most of them were from what we referred to as the "Barefoot Triangle" in the ER when I was a resident. It is an area bordered by Splendora, New Caney and Porter, NE of Houston, TX. This was in reference to their being barefoot on arrival. Trust and believe you do not want to walk around an emergency room barefoot

They made a lot of crystal meth in Splendora.

OK, as far as I know, my grandmother would not be considered the type of one of the people from the "Barefoot Triangle" nor do I believe she ever cooked any crystal meth at all.
What I do know is she swore WD-40 eased her arthritic elbow. Saw her apply it many a time.
I wondered about it, have never tried it, and thought she was somewhat unique in her use of it... guess I need to spray my knee to see for myself!

audiman08 · 11-18-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

guess I need to spray my knee to see for myself!

But....you might get cancer in your joints..

Hugh R · 11-18-2009, 06:32 PM

I believe it to be safe. The propellant is butane/propane. It's simple aliphatic hydrocarbons, not aromatics (like benze, or toluene). The State of California doesn't require a Proposition 65(cancer warning) label on it. BTW, I'm a Certified Industrial Hygienist, that means I'm qualified to speak on the subject.

audiman08 · 11-18-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I believe it to be safe. The propellant is butane/propane. It's simple aliphatic hydrocarbons, not aromatics (like benze, or toluene). The State of California doesn't require a Proposition 65(cancer warning) label on it. BTW, I'm a Certified Industrial Hygienist, that means I'm qualified to speak on the subject.

Great, thank you. An expert opinion is always reassuring.

elwood-914 · 11-18-2009, 07:02 PM

I am careful of handling petroleum products, always use gloves.
The reason is, I had cancer and though they can't say definitely they said it could have come from using solvents. I read about that theory while researching my cancer. I used to wash a lot of car parts in solvent,Working at Union 76 in high school.
I lost 1 1/2 years of my life fighting cancer and they say it's going to come back.

Soooo I use gloves when handling ' chemicals'

But that is just me.

NineOhOne · 11-18-2009, 07:06 PM

WD-40's formula is a trade secret. The product is not patented in order to avoid completely disclosing its ingredients. WD-40's main ingredients, according to U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet information, are:

50%: S t o d d a r d solvent (i.e., mineral spirits -- primarily hexane, somewhat similar to kerosene)
25%: Liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable flammability)
15+%: Mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
10-%: Inert ingredients

The German version of the mandatory EU safety sheet lists the following safety-relevant ingredients:

60-80%: Heavy Naphtha (petroleum product), hydrogen treated
1-5%: Carbon dioxide

It further lists flammability and effects to the human skin when repeatedly exposed to WD-40 as risks when using WD-40. Nitrile rubber gloves and safety glasses should be used. Water is unsuitable for extinguishing burning WD-40.

The WD-40 web site states that it is a petroleum based product.

Joeaksa · 11-18-2009, 07:09 PM

You are going to die of something. Stop being a pussy...

elwood-914 · 11-18-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

You are going to die of something. Stop being a pussy...

That directed at me??

onewhippedpuppy · 11-18-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I believe it to be safe. The propellant is butane/propane. It's simple aliphatic hydrocarbons, not aromatics (like benze, or toluene). The State of California doesn't require a Proposition 65(cancer warning) label on it. BTW, I'm a Certified Industrial Hygienist, that means I'm qualified to speak on the subject.

But I thought that every product on Earth is "Known to the state of California" to cause cancer? Always amazes me how California knows so much more than the other 49 states.