THE Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) and the Pharmaceutical Society have cautioned arthritis sufferers against the use of WD-40 – the penetrating oil spray that serves as a cleaner, lubricant and corrosive solution for use on metal – saying improper use could result in inflammation of the skin and lung.

MAJ president Dr Alverston Bailey said users could possibly develop conditions such as acute contact dermatitis, bronchitis or pneumonitis.

“I cannot recommend an industrial (substance), used to loosen nuts and bolts, to be used as a medical treatment. There seems to be inherent risks involved, one being that the particular solvent might be absorbed in the skin, and thus present a risk of a toxic reaction from the chemical,” Bailey said.

“One would also have to consider the possibility that the chemical might cause acute contact dermatitis (inflammation of the skin, caused by an irritant property of the substance exposed to),” he added.

His warning comes in the wake of reports, published in the Sunday Observer last week, that locals were using the substance to relieve arthritis and joint pains.

“I saw the article, and was actually very alarmed,” said Norman Dunn, president of the Pharmaceutical Society. “WD is a petroleum-based derivative. There are so many uses – more than 2,000 uses people have found for this product – but none of those 2,000 other uses include use on humans.”

Dunn, like Bailey, urged people to refrain from using the product, noting there was a derth of information regarding its potential effects, ill or otherwise, on the body.

“As far as we are concerned, since there is absolutely no data on its usage (on humans), we would not recommend it any at all. As a matter of fact, I would caution people not to use it at all,” Dunn said.

“When you look at the original data, as far as health and safety is concerned, a lot was not mentioned because it was just not to be used on human beings,” he added.

“The healthy and safety information was more to do with the people working in the environment. So again you find that there is no data related to the use on human beings as far as I know – I can’t speak for the WD-40 Company,” Dunn continued.

Bailey said he suspected that the reason people used the substance was because of its soothing effects on the joint or arthritis pain experienced. That, notwithstanding, he said people needed to look at safe alternatives, including ice packs.

“I cannot in all honesty see how a petroleum distillate could be classified as anti-inflammatory drug. So the only reason I would entertain that the (substance) would be used is because of the cooling effect. When it evaporates, it will cool inflamed tissue. If that is the case, what the individual can do is use an ice pack,” the MAJ head told the Sunday Observer.

He noted, in the interim, that there was potentially some risk of toxicity.

“Reflecting on the particular product, I would be concerned that because it is a volatile organic chemical, there would be a risk of absorption so it could potentially cause a certain amount of toxicity,” he said.

He added that there was also a range of other potential ill effects due to overexposure to the substance, as noted on its material safety data sheet. They include:

. anaesthesia, headache, dizziness, nausea and upper respiratory irritation caused by inhalation (breathing);

. drying of the skin and or irritation caused through skin contact;

. irritation, tearing and redness of the eye caused through contact; as well as

. irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea caused by ingestion.

The hazardous ingredients in the product, meanwhile, include aliphatic petroleum distillates, petroleum-based oil and carbon dioxide – as is also noted on the material safety data sheet.

Dunn, for his part, noted the possibility of chemical pneumonia.

“If you consume the thing any at all, it can cause what is called chemical pneumonia. Say you use plenty and you end up swallowing it or whatever, the literature speaks to the fact that it can cause chemical pneumonia,” he said.

Bailey expounded on how the condition could occur.

“Chemical pneumonia means that you get a pneumonia-like response to a chemical. The chemical is usually inhaled. Chemicals that are inhaled can cause acute irritation of the respiratory tract, and you can end up with pneumonitis or alveolitis,” he said.

“If the particular chemical is sprayed in a confined space and the concentration of the chemical was particularly high, theoretically there is a chance of irritating the respiratory tract so you could end up with tracheitis, bronchitis or pneumonitis. It’s all a theoretical construct. We are looking at a worst case scenario,” he said.

Bailey was, however, quick to add that bottom line was that people needed to refrain from using the substance on their bodies.

“If the material data safety sheet shows that it is toxic if inhaled, ingested or absorbed, one will have to invite all persons using it to desist because the risks far outweigh any potential benefits that might have been anticipated. There are far better ways to get relief from pain,” he said.

WD-40 was developed in 1953 by a fledgling San Diego, California company, Rocket Chemical, owned by Norm Larsen. The idea, according to the WD-40 website, was to create “a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry”. The name of the product ostensibly came about as it took the staff 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out.

“But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40, which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try, is still in use today,” notes the website.

Since then, WD-40 has become a household name and is used by consumers from a range of markets, including the automotive, manufacturing, sporting goods, aviation, hardware and home improvement, construction, as well as farming.