Surprise with 10 products you use every day that contain petroleum

You may be surprised to know that everything from chocolate, vanilla ice cream, aspirin to toothpaste, perfume, cosmetics and many other household products contain petroleum-based ingredients.

Petroleum - the ubiquitous fossil fuel - not only provides the main fuel for transportation, cooking and heating, but it also plays a surprising role in many products used every day.

Petrochemicals derived from oil and natural gas are used in more than 6,000 common products, from foods to beauty care products. Here are 10 products with the presence of petroleum that may surprise you.

1. Chocolate

The chocolate coating contains food-grade paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. (Source: Getty Images)

Chocolate coatings sometimes contain food-grade paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil.

When mixed into chocolate, paraffin wax can impart a glossy sheen as it hardens and helps keep the chocolate solid at higher temperatures due to its low melting point.

Food-grade paraffin wax also prevents the chocolate from sticking to the mold, making it easier to remove the intact finished product.

When eaten, wax remains undigested in the body, but that does not mean it is unsafe. A 2023 study by the European Food Safety Authority found no safety concerns related to food-grade paraffin wax products.

2. Vanilla ice cream

 Vanillin flavoring in vanilla ice cream is derived from petroleum. (Source: Getty Images).

Synthetic oils derived from petroleum are often used in food flavorings such as vanilla, almond, and lemon.

These synthetic compounds can be designed to replicate specific flavors, providing a consistent flavor that gives foods an appealing aroma.

They are cheap and versatile, and can be created in a variety of flavors to meet consumer needs. For example, Benzaldehyde (almond flavor) and Vanillin (vanilla flavor) are both derived from petroleum.

3. Toothpaste

 (Source: Getty Images)

Toothpaste may contain oil derivatives such as polyethylene glycol, which are added for flavoring, antibacterial properties and texture.

Additionally, some manufacturers use a petroleum derivative called poloxamer 407 to help toothpaste dissolve in water, as well as sodium saccharin, an artificial, petroleum-based sweetener that helps kill plaque. .

4. Perfumes and cosmetics

 (Source: Getty Images)

When you apply perfume to your wrist, you are most likely applying ingredients from the remains of small animals and plants (plankton) that died on ancient sea floors 10-600 million years ago, not from natural essential oils. 100% pure natural.

Many perfumes use petroleum-based oils instead of natural essential oils to create scents.

For example, Iso E Super has an amber woody scent, while Hedione offers a jasmine scent. Galaxolide, another synthetic oil has a musky odor.

They all have the effect of prolonging the life of perfume and have the ability to last longer than natural essential oils.

In addition, most current beauty products such as lipstick, eyeliner, etc. are also made from petroleum-based substances such as crylate, coal tar and propylenglycol.

5. Paint

 (Source: Getty Images)

Adding plastic polymers to paints makes them more water-resistant and durable - and plastic is made from oil.

Resin-based paints can adhere well to surfaces and crack less than other natural paints, so they are commonly used to paint steel surfaces.

Synthetic oils can also allow for a wider range of colors, however, as the paint ages or dries, it will peel off.

Some paints are actually made with more than 1/3 plastic content. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the volume of microplastic particles from paint on steel surfaces entering the ocean each year can reach 1.5-2.25 million tons, equivalent to 150-225 billion bottles. hollow plastic.

6. Aspirin

 (Source: iStock)

Aspirin has been proven to be one of the safest and most reliable pharmaceuticals in recent decades. This medicine is effective in treating headaches, fever and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Acetylsalicylic acid in Aspirin also helps relieve pain effectively. Most aspirin is produced from benzene – a hydrocarbon extracted from petroleum.

There are also many other types of pills covered in plastic to prevent the pills from sticking together and make them easier to swallow. Synthetic ingredients also keep the active ingredients from decomposing so the product has a longer shelf life.

7. Laxatives

Laxatives are made from polyethylene glycol, a petroleum product also found in toothpaste.

Polyethylene glycol pulls water into the colon, making stools softer and making bowel movements easier.

According to Harvard Health, some laxatives contain mineral oil, which can be extracted from petroleum and forms a slippery coating in the intestines.

8. Vaseline

 (Source: Getty Images)

Vaseline, also known as petroleum jelly, is a derivative of crude oil, obtained during the distillation of heavy crude oil, then refined through many stages.

Vaseline has greasy, slippery, soft, odorless properties, is widely used, serves many different purposes, especially skin protection and moisturizing.

In the cosmetics industry, vaseline is used to produce eye creams, skin creams, lipsticks and body lotions.

In the pharmaceutical industry, vaseline is mainly used to produce ointments to treat burns, dry skin, chapped limbs, chapped lips, and cracked heels.

9. Shaving cream

 (Source: Getty Images)

Shaving cream contains oil in a form called isopentane, which is derived from crude oil. Isopentane helps break down sebum or sebum on human skin and causes hair to stand up, making it easier to shave.

Additionally, shaving products often use polyethylene glycol, which is also used in laxatives and sexual lubricants. It is flexible and stable, creating a protective barrier on the skin to reduce friction and irritation.

10. Aromatherapy essential oils freshen the air

Air fresheners such as air fresheners and essential oils often contain oils derived from petroleum to create a pleasant scent that can last longer and is more stable than natural oils. course.

These synthetic oils are designed to mimic popular perfumes and can be formulated to release gradually over time, preserving the scent long-lasting.