Could WD-40 Be Ototoxic?

[Bill Bauer]

Earlier today, I got some WD-40 (the "specialist" variety that is supposed to be somewhat of a gel and stay on longer) on the skin on my hand. I washed it off within 30 seconds with soap and water. About 4 hours later out of the blue I got fleeting tinnitus, that got quieter but hasn't gone away for about half an hour now.

Could this spike be the result of WD-40 being ototoxic?!

This is brutal...

 

[Bartoli]

Earlier today, I got some WD-40 (the "specialist" variety that is supposed to be somewhat of a gel and stay on longer) on the skin on my hand. I washed it off within 30 seconds with soap and water. About 4 hours later out of the blue I got fleeting tinnitus, that got quieter but hasn't gone away for about half an hour now.

Could this spike be the result of WD-40 being ototoxic?!

This is brutal...

I don't think so. The skin absorption rate is very low, if anything. Being a gel, I would think it's even less likely to permeate the skin than regular WD40.
Can you download the safety sheet and check for what to do in case of skin contact?

The regular WD40 is actually a water displacer and light lubricant. While it's good to have for many things it's rarely the best in any particular application. If you need to lube something you could use a bottle with a dripping nozzle with light lube? For indoor applications where weather isn't a problem I sometimes use cooking oil like olive or sunflower oil. It's safer (both environmentally and for you).

Just to clarify: I suggested a bottle with lube as opposed to a spraycan because it's less likely the stuff will go everywhere and personally I Prefer working with that. I also assumed you used WD40 as a lubricant as most people tend to do. WD40 has now very much become a brand name with different products in their range from degreasers and detergents to lubes and liquid grease so maybe I'm assuming wrongly.

 

[Bill Bauer]

For indoor applications where weather isn't a problem I sometimes use cooking oil like olive or sunflower oil. It's safer (both environmentally and for you).

My next project is lubricating my treadmill. I have been concerned about the warning on WD-40 "use in a well ventilated area". Would olive oil really be ok to use?

The new tone is better, but something is still there...

 

[Bartoli]

My next project is lubricating my treadmill. I have been concerned about the warning on WD-40 "use in a well ventilated area". Would olive oil really be ok to use?

The new tone is better, but something is still there...

I have gotten WD-40 on my hands many times without any negative effect on my tinnitus. I would indeed be more wary of the vapor. WD-40 has this very particular odor.
That's why I don't use it indoors if I can help it. But I inhaled some of it in the past by using it indoors and it didn't affect my tinnitus.

For lubricating a treadmill I would try to look up what the manufacturer recommends. Do you have an idea what was on there before? Olive oil won't do any harm but won't stick as long as some proprietary lubricants, especially the PTFE-ones. You may risk burning off the olive oil in fast spinning bearings and the like. That said, there's almost definitely something out there that's better suited for the job than WD-40 ,like some bicycle dry lube, or sewing machine oil. Being a treadmill, there's no risk of contamination with dirt and water. If you can expose the surface that needs to be lubed you can drip it in there. If not, WD-40 will work too. It'll evaporate and leave behind a light layer of lubricant. The little red straw can help getting lube in places that are hard to reach or that you don't want to disassemble. Air the room out for a bit and you'll be good. What exactly do you need to lube? Bearings? Can you provide a picture maybe? That could help.

Also,what's the reason you like to lube the part? Excessive noise?

 

[Bill Bauer]

Also,what's the reason you like to lube the part? Excessive noise?

I hear some squeaking when I use it and when I bounce up and down on it like he does here


I had lubricated the treadmill in the past, and it got rid of the noise. But now the noise is back...

 

[Bartoli]

John obviously knows his trade. I'd say you could definitely use some cooking oil instead of the lube on the pivots if it makes you feel better about not using WD-40. You'll hear it if they run dry again.
For this particular application normal WD-40 or another lube would easier penetrate those hard-to-get-by pivots than a gel-like substance, unless you're unscrewing the pivots in which case a tacky grease might provide longer-lasting lubrication.

Some bike brands like Muc-off have organic lubes as well. Hope you can sort out the squeaks!

 

[linearb]

I doubt it; If so I would probably be deaf by now. I routinely get that stuff and all kinds of other solvents all over my hands.

Occupational hazard of small engine maintenance, chainsaws, home repair, etc.

I use a n100 mask if I'm going to be working with stuff indoors for more than about 30 seconds, or even outdoors if extended periods or really nasty stuff. PPE to keep it off my skin is a lot less effective; there's some stuff that's just a pain to do in gloves, and if you've ever been in a mechanic's bay and watched the rate they go through nitrile gloves vs how greasy they still are at the end of the day it's a losing battle.

 

[Lane]

Could this spike be the result of WD-40 being ototoxic?!

@Bill Bauer -- Whether or not it's ototoxic per se, it seems clear its toxicity has affected your tinnitus, just like seemingly more benign sugar or coffee do for other people. I purhcased a non-toxic lubricant a few months ago, and was pleased that it had absolutely no odor.

The job I did was such that I got it all over my hands, and I didn't notice any kind of toxic reaction. Here's a link: -- https://nxsgreen.com/ BTW, you might the story about the founding of the company interesting; just click on the "Our Story" link.

 

[Bill Bauer]

n100 mask

Is it the case that you can't smell the smell of WD-40 when you wear that mask?

 

[Bartoli]

Is it the case that you can't smell the smell of WD-40 when you wear that mask?

I think you would need a silicon mask or half-mask with A1 cartridges for that. As with earplugs, the fit is what matters too.

 

[linearb]

Is it the case that you can't smell the smell of WD-40 when you wear that mask?

If it's properly fitted with new filters... probably?

I mostly use it for spraypainting and cleaning out ash / soot, I dunno if I have ever specifically used it for WD-40. WD-40 is something I consider moderately toxic but generally only use for very limited periods of time so as long as I'm not huffing it or getting it in my eyes, it hasn't concerned me too much.

I don't think any of the petrochems cross the skin barrier.

 

[ajc]

I use a n100 mask

What is the exact model of your mask?

 

[linearb]

What is the exact model of your mask?

3m 6503ql mask with 3M 2091 filters

Here I am being a dork in my maple sugar shack last year when I was cleaning up soot. Probably should have been wearing googles, too... (this was already posted in the photo gallery thread)


Knowing this will not be useful to you; these used to be a ubiquitous $20-30 item, but because of COVID the masks themselves appear to be out of stock everywhere and the only replacement filters I see are 3m Chinese branded on ebay and I would not trust them to be real. It does look like places are working to get them back in stock next month, however.

Also, @Bill Bauer I misspoke above -- according to the MSDS for WD40, it can cross the skin, but probably only in meaningful amounts with extended and long term exposure, and the problem ingrediants appear to be isobutane and other petrochems we're all exposed to all over the environment anyway. So, I would not bathe in the stuff and I will continue to treat it like oil as far as washing it off in a timely fashion -- but I think it's "safe" in this regard. Very brief exposure to agents like that just isn't that toxic; their risks come from massive poisoning, or cancer risks and nervous system damage from low-level exposure over very long periods.