Dust entry

Mineral oil mist

Colorless oily aerosol dispersed in air during machining, lubrication, cutting, or other mineral-oil handling.

Airborne form

mistaerosol

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

eye irritationskin irritationrespiratory-system irritation

Evidence

The NIOSH Pocket Guide identifies mineral oil mist as an oily liquid aerosol dispersed in air, with inhalation, skin, and eye contact routes and irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

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Physical Description; Exposure Limits; Exposure Routes; Symptoms · 1

Physical Description Colorless, oily liquid aerosol dispersed in air. NIOSH REL TWA 5 mg/m3 ST 10 mg/m3. Exposure Routes inhalation, skin and/or eye contact. Symptoms irritation eyes, skin, respiratory system.

A NIOSH evaluation of grinding-fluid exposure at a bearing manufacturer identified oil mist as an exposure and found no evidence that machining-fluid exposure was the primary cause of the reported symptoms among participants at the time of the survey; NIOSH nevertheless provided exposure-minimization recommendations.

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page 3 · Summary · 2

The findings from the medical survey provided no evidence that exposure to machining fluids was the primary cause of the reported symptoms among the participants at the time of our survey.

Controls

enclose oil-mist-generating processes
use local exhaust ventilation
maintain machining-fluid controls
protect skin and eyes
use appropriate respiratory protection where exposure assessment indicates it is needed