Used and re-refined Oils Group - information sheet

On this page

• Overview
• About these substances
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Screening assessment conclusions
• Related information

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducted a science-based screening assessment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment from substances in the Used and Re-refined Oils Group.
• Under CEPA 1999, the risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people and the environment.
• As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that used oil residue, used vacuum gas oil, C_12-25 used distillate, C_5-18 used distillate, used light oil, hydrotreated residue, refined used oil, and clay-treated used oil are not harmful to human health or to the environment.

About these substances

• The screening assessment focused on 8 of 9 substances referred to collectively under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) as the Used and Re-refined Oils Group. The substances addressed are used oil residue, used vacuum gas oil, C_12-25 used distillate, C_5-18 used distillate, used light oil, hydrotreated residue, refined used oil, and clay-treated used oil.
• The other substance, lubricant oils, used (CAS RN 70514-12-4) was found to meet the broad classification of used crankcase oils and was therefore considered to have already been addressed through the Priority Substances List Assessment Report of Waste/Used Crankcase Oils in 1994 and the follow-up report in 2005. The Government concluded that used crankcase oils are harmful to the environment. Waste/used crankcase oils are subject to provincial and territorial risk management measures. As such, this substance will not be subject to further risk assessment work at this time under the CMP given previous regulatory activities.
• This Group includes substances produced during re-processing and re-refining processes, which are processes to refurbish used oils to high-quality base oils.
• Used vacuum gas oil, C_12-25 used distillate, C_5-18 used distillate, used light oil, and hydrotreated residue are used within industrial facilities as lubricant oils.
• Refined used oil and clay-treated used oil are base oils with commercial and industrial applications and are end-products of the re-refining process.
• Some of the substances in the Used and Re-refined Oils Group have similar physical-chemical properties and uses to used crankcase oils, asphalts, and base oils.

Human and ecological exposures

• Exposures associated with asphalt use of used oil residue are described in the Final Screening Assessment for Asphalt and Oxidized Asphalt. As described in that assessment, dried asphalt likely entraps contaminants and other petroleum substances which limit the exposure of used oil residue to Canadians and the environment.
• Exposures associated with uses of used vacuum gas oil, C_12-25 used distillate, C_5-18 used distillate, and used light oil are similar to those described in the Final Screening Assessment of Petroleum Sector Stream Approach for Low Boiling Point Naphthas (Industry-restricted) or the Screening Assessment of Petroleum Sector Stream Approach for Gas Oils (Industry-restricted). These substances are used within industrial facilities and do not enter the marketplace as products available for consumers, which restricts their exposure to Canadians and to the environment.
• There was no information found indicating that hydro-treated residue and clay-treated used oil are currently used or produced in Canada. Therefore, there are no known sources of exposure to Canadians or to the environment from these substances.
• Exposures associated with uses of refined used oil were similar to those described in the screening assessment for base oils. There is limited exposure expected from the industrial products where this substance is found.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• Effects on human health and aquatic organisms were not quantified for substances in this group, due to their limited potential for exposure.

Risk assessment outcomes

• As lubricant oils, used (CAS RN 70514-12-4) was found to meet the broad classification of used crankcase oils, and is considered to have been addressed through previous assessment activities, this substance was not subject to further risk assessment work at this time, under the CMP.
• On the basis of low or no expected exposure, the risk to human health from these 8 substances is low.
• Considering all information presented in the screening assessment, it was also determined that there is low risk of harm to the environment from these 8 substances.
• The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment for the Used and Re-refined Oils Group on December 26, 2020.

Screening assessment conclusions

• The Government concluded that used oil residue, used vacuum gas oil, C_12-25 used distillate, C_5-18 used distillate, used light oil, hydrotreated residue, refined used oil, and clay-treated used oil are not harmful to human health for the general population of Canada, based on the uses described in the assessment, and that these 8 substances are not entering the environment at levels that are harmful to the environment.

Related information

• The screening assessment focused on potential risks from exposure of the general population of Canada, rather than occupational exposure. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). For information concerning workplace health and safety and what steps to take in the workplace, Canadians should consult their employer and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulator in their jurisdiction.