Pulmonary Hazard of the Ingestion of Mineral Oil in the Apparently Healthy Adult

PERIODIC reports of harm resulting from the ingestion or aspiration of mineral oil have appeared in the medical literature and even in the lay press. Recently, it has been shown that the taking of liquid petrolatum with food prevents substantial amounts of food carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, from entering the body.1 This fact and some corollaries thereto have been established to the satisfaction of authors of the latest books on nutrition and vitamin therapy and have provoked editorial comment.2 More than two decades have elapsed since it was demonstrated that serious harm can be done to the lungs . . .