Evaluation of carcinogenic effect of mineral oil used in the processing of jute fibres.

The study evaluated the carcinogenic potential of jute-batching oil (JBO) by applying it to the skin of ITRC mice for up to 300 days. Initially, the mice exhibited skin changes such as hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and poor hair growth, but these symptoms largely subsided by 200 days, except for persistent baldness. No carcinogenic changes were observed in the skin or viscera of the mice. However, when JBO was combined with the known carcinogen 3,4 benzpyrene (BP), it shortened the time for tumour development, indicating a potential cancer-promoting effect of JBO that warranted further investigation.