How dangerous is to smell trumpet valve oil by mistake?

[Tro.sy]

Hallo Guys,
we all know that trumpet valve oil is toxic, but how toxic it is actually?
We all need to use valve oils, and we smell it sometimes by mistake. It also leaks to your hand while playing especially directly after you use it. Is it safe to put your trumpet case in your bedroom when you know that the valve oil is inside the case? Sometimes i think that the oil will vaporate and come to my nose so i have to smell it!! I am also trying to wash my hands every time i use my trumpet, which is annoying especially if you practice a lot! I know that petroleum products are very toxic and smelling them damages your brain and lungs that's why i am afraid of it. Do you think i am exaggerating? Or is it normal? What's the safest way to use valve oils?

[delano]

[JayKosta]

Having valve oil (or greases) in tightly closed containers in the trumpet case should prevent any gas/odor leakage.

And yes, wash your hands after contact with oil/grease. And don't handle food before hand washing.

Some people are highly sensitive to those products - and it's NOT just that they 'smell', but the effect of certain chemicals on their body.

Maybe a synthetic oil or grease would be ok - read the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for it.

Jay
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[veery715]

Berp Bio Oil is non-toxic.
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veery715
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[mm55]

[Tro.sy]

[Tro.sy]

[Tro.sy]

[veery715]

[pinstriper]

Last time I checked the ingredients of valve oil - and this is a LONG time ago - as in Jimmy-Carter-Was-President-Thats-How-Long-Ago, valve oil was mostly mineral oil, which is pretty darn safe.

Are there other ingredients in particular brands/formulations besides mineral oil ? Sure. What is the toxicity of those ? I dunno.

https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/mineral-oil/

Is it possible to over-expose/over-ingest/aspirate the stuff ? Sure. But it isn't kryptonite.
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[mm55]

Kerosene ("paraffin oil" in the UK) used to be common in valve oil. I don't know about today's oils.
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[spitvalve]

Some valve oils contain "petroleum distillates" which in the past has often been "deodorized kerosene." I actually used winterized diesel fuel (which is mostly kerosene with additives to keep it slick in cold weather) for several years when I was a starving student because it was a buck for a gallon. It worked great, although it stunk like only diesel can. If nothing else, the smell kept other people from borrowing my valve oil! (I use Al Cass now)
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Bryan Fields
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1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

[Andy Del]

While it seems a little trite to ask this question about valve oil safety, we had a PD day at work which involved material handling.

Down under it is mandated to have a MSDS for all chemical products used in the workplace. School is a workplace. Valve oil, the ones containing petroleum distillates are toxic. We have a legally mandated duty of care. Etc. etc. You should have seen their faces when I produced a bottle of Al Cass oil with the fatal if swallowed warning...

Bottom line was, technically we had to have a MSDS on hand for any and all chemicals. So, in the interests of putting the wind into a few stiff shirted sails, we requested MSDS from retailers who supplied us (and they are legally required to have such for the products they sell our PD day told us).

Guess how many positive responses we got form our retailers and distributers?

Zero.

Am I worried about valve oil? No. Having had a SCC on the base of my tongue, I was assured that given the chemicals I showed were in valve oil, it and the cancer I had were not related. After some 40+ years playing, I reckon it wold have got me by now if it was...

cheers

Andy
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so many horns, so few good notes...

[John Mohan]

Petroleum based products contain benzene rings and as I learned in organic chemistry, benzene rings are carcinogenic. That said, given the fact that trumpet players and brass musicians in general don't seem to have a significant increase in cancer levels or early death over the rest of the population, I don't think we have anything to worry about.

Oil your valves with the stuff and don't drink it and you'll be fine.

Cheers,

John Mohan
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[TrumpetMD]

Good reply by John. I agree that the highest risk of harm comes from drinking it.

And FWIW, after drinking valve oil (or something chemically similar), the biggest risk is aspirating it into your lungs, typically from someone tries to throw it up after ingesting it. Significant problems arise, because there is no good way for your body to remove mineral oils from your lungs.

Let me add that the level of toxicity depends how it has been refined. I am not a chemist or a toxicologist, but I assume that valve oil has been sufficiently refined, and is safe, when used properly. I also assume that other agents, from kerosene to diesel fuel to wd-40 have not been sufficiently refined, and are not safe to use on your trumpet.

Mike
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Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[delano]

Maybe if you drink it will be good for the flexible joints.

[Eliot]

[TrumpetMD]

[Eliot]

[boog]

Use "Mississippi Valve Oil" (Saliva). Organic, non-toxic, bio-degradable, sustainable, easy to transport and store, and cheap!