Abstract |
Shell Oil Company is a basic producer of a series of eromatic process and extender oils which we market under our DUTREX(R) trademark. The oils contain polynuclear aromatics (PNA) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAH). Since we became aware of the published skin cancer results of animal studies with known PNA materials, we have warned our customers that DUTREX oils do contain PNA's and are, therefore, cancer suspect agents. Attached is the interim report of a study conducted in mice with DUTREX oils. The study was started in 1976 at the Tunstall (England) Laboratories of Shell International Chemical Company. Exposure is via the dermal route. The findings confirm our concern that this product, containing PNA's at significantly high levels, can elicit a positive carcinogenic response in test animals. |