MOTOR OIL
| HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENT |
POSSIBLE EFFECTS |
|---|
| HEAVY METALS |
Cause nerve and kidney damage, suspected carcinogen |
| HYDROCARBONS |
Some forms are carcinogenic |
Motor oil is a petroleum distillate product composed of 75% mineral oil, 20%
oxidation inhibitors and detergents, and 5% pour depressants and viscosity improvers.
Used or waste motor oil is often contaminated with lead outside the United States
(from gasoline), magnesium, copper, zinc, and other heavy metals which are picked
up from the engine.
Used motor oil can present a threat to health through skin contact, skin absorption,
inhalation, or ingestion. Many of the problems associated with used motor oil
are due to exposure to the heavy metals. These health problems are cumulative,
so with each exposure to used motor oil the amount of heavy metals added to
the body's system increases.
Used motor oil poses a very serious threat to the environment when disposed of
improperly. Just one gallon of motor oil can pollute one million gallons of
water and can form an oil slick nearly 8 acres in size!
Use: Wear protective gloves.
Storage: Store away from children
and sources of ignition. Place used motor oil in a labeled container with
a tight-fitting lid (a plastic milk jug with a tight-fitting cap works
well).
Disposal:
Please follow these directions to avoid harming our environment and
groundwater:
- Recycle used motor oil! Take used motor oil to
a used motor oil collection center.
- Do not put used motor oil in the
trash. Throwing it away is harmful to the environment and not a good
use of this valuable resource.
- Do not pour used motor oil on the
ground or down storm sewers, spray it on roads, or allow your car to
leak oil.
- Do not burn used motor oil.
When used motor oil is burned (for example, when dumped on a brush
pile) the heavy metals quickly adsorb onto surrounding soil particles
and contaminate the ground. In addition, when used motor oil is burned,
heavy metals and other contaminants can be released into the air, which
may cause serious health and environmental problems.
© Copyright