Handling, safety and practical applications for use of essential oils

Chapter 8 Handling, safety and practical applications for use of essential oils



INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND


A knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of the essential oils and materials used gives a logical background that can inform and guide in their applications in aromatherapy. The everyday storage, handling and use of oils with clients involve an underlying understanding of safety coupled with an awareness of the ever-increasing burden of legislation. The basics of anatomy and physiology appropriate to aromatherapy and the links to psychological well-being also need to be considered within this context. Topics in this chapter draw directly on the concepts previously covered in analysis and composition of oils. Important sources of information about properties and handling of essential oils can be found in established literature, in specialist journals and from the individual Safety Data Sheet for that oil. Safety Data Sheets cover areas including composition, health hazards, first aid procedures, dire and explosion hazard, procedures for accidental release, handling, storage, ecological implications, transport, labelling, regulations and other information. The oil supplier should have Safety Data Sheets for the materials they sell. An example for Eucalyptus globulus is shown in this chapter, and in the previous chapter we saw such sheets for rosemary and lemongrass, where they were linked with analytical data.



STORAGE OF OILS



Containers


It is important that the container is made of material that will not interact, either physically or chemically, with the essential oil. For the quantities handled by the aromatherapist, neutral glass is the best choice. Suppliers will use metal containers for larger quantities. Aluminium with an internally lacquered surface would be suitable for amounts up to 10 kg, while internally lacquered steel drums would be appropriate for amounts above 10 kg.




AROMAFACT


Plastic is usually avoided as it can absorb constituents from the oil, thus altering the composition of the oil. Also, this can cause the container walls to swell and weaken. Chemicals in the plastic may also be absorbed by the oil, thus altering its composition again. When components of the plastic become dissolved in the oil, detectable changes often occur in its odour.



Closures


The container must be sealed by a closure. If air is allowed to enter and interact with the essential oil, the chemical reaction of oxidation can occur. Oxidation in this case can be considered the addition of oxygen to an oil constituent to form a new compound. New compounds formed will alter the composition of the oil. Water vapour may also enter from the air. An open or incompletely sealed container will allow essential oil components to escape as vapours, and this will change the balance of constituents. The best choice of closure for a bottle is a screw cap fitted with a wad or washer. Ideally bottles are fitted with childproof tops and drop dispensers to control amounts dispensed.




AROMAFACT


Essential oils like Citrus limon (lemon) and Pinus sylvestris (Scotch pine), which are high in terpenes such as limonene and pinene, are particularly prone to oxidation. The air provides oxygen, and oxidation is the chemical reaction in which oxygen adds onto another substance, to form a new compound. Small amounts of essential oil should not be kept in large bottles with a large amount of air above the oil. As the oil is used up, its level goes down and the amount of air above it increases. If an oil is stored in a large bottle, the number of times it is opened will also probably be more than for a smaller one, and this also exposes it to the air each time.



Protection from light


Essential oils should be protected from the light. Sunlight causes photocatalytic activity – that is, there are reactions that are speeded up by light. These reactions cause the essential oil to deteriorate. Artificial lights such as filament bulbs and fluorescent tubes are far less active than sunlight, but are still harmful.




AROMAFACT


Metal containers give complete protection against light, but amber glass will afford adequate protection for the majority of oils used by the aromatherapist.



Temperature


It is important to store essential oils under cool conditions. Woody oils such as Cedrus atlantica (cedarwood), Santalum album (sandalwood), Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) and Vetiveria zizanioides (vetivert) can be stored at a low room temperature, no higher than 15 °C. Resinoids can be kept at low temperatures, no higher than 10 °C, as may be found in a cellar. All other oils are best stored at temperatures found in a typical domestic refrigerator at around 5 °C. Rose otto and rose absolute and a few other oils may congeal or solidify at low temperatures, but re-melt at room temperature. It is important that they are allowed to do this gradually without application of artificial heat.




AROMAFACT


Citrus essential oils and many herbal essential oils that are rich in highly volatile, low boiling point monoterpenes will deteriorate very quickly if not kept cool. Ideally they should be used within six months of purchase, but if they are stored and handled carefully this can be extended for up to a year. Most other essential oils should be used within a year of purchase or first opening, but this may be extended to two years if they are handled carefully and stored in a refrigerator. These effects can be explained by the fact that the rate of deterioration doubles for every 10 °C rise in temperature.


In conclusion, the general storage rules for essential oils would be: store in tightly stoppered, small, dark glass bottles that will be used up quickly with minimal times of opening to prevent entry of air or loss of volatile components. They should be stored at cool temperatures and used within a year of purchase.



Flammability and spillages


Essential oils are flammable and must be kept away from naked flames. Small spillages can be wiped up with paper or a cloth which should then be placed in an external bin, as this waste can easily ignite. Large spillages should be absorbed onto a suitable inert material and then put into sealed containers. Under no circumstances should these be incinerated or discharged into drains or sewers.




AROMAFACT


Essential oils have a value called a flash point, which gives a measure of their flammability. It can be defined as the lowest temperature at which the vapour above a liquid can be ignited in air. Typical values for essential oils are in the range 33 °C to 77 °C. The lowest values are found in oils such as Boswellia carteri (frankincense) at 32 °C and citrus oils at around 43 °C, and the highest in woody oils, with Santalum album (sandalwood) having a flash point above 100 °C and Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedarwood) one of 110 °C.



LABELLING


From practical considerations, the actual size of the label on a typical essential oil bottle is very small. This will limit the amount of information it can carry. There are a number of recommendations and guidelines for labelling from various regulatory and professional bodies, which need to be applied with certain legislative requirements in mind. These include guidance from AOC (Aromatherapy Organizations Council), IFRA (International Fragrance Association) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization). The EC regulations are explained in Chapter 7.


Details of labelling will be covered in the aspects of Professional Practice on an aromatherapy course. For practical purposes the label for an essential oil should indicate the following:


1 The botanical name and the part of the plant the oil is derived from, e.g. Syzygium aromaticum (clove) from bud, leaf or stem; Juniperus communis L. (juniper) from berry or needle.

2 The amount of the oil in the bottle.

3 The concentration of the oil. Many pre-blended oils are 5% in a carrier oil, and that carrier oil should also be named.

4 An indication of the useful shelf-life of the oil.

5 Storage precautions and temperature implications, usually stated as keep cool, tightly sealed, not in direct sunlight and out of reach of children.

6 Cautions: do not use neat, keep away from eyes, for external use only – do not ingest.

7 Name of supplier, with a contact point.



AROMAFACT


Oils that are bought directly from a supplier or through a retail outlet will probably carry most of the information listed above. However, you may supply an essential oil, or a blend of oils that is specifically formulated for use with an individual client. This will need additional labelling and must link to your therapists’ record-keeping system. These oils will need to have additional information, including the client’s name, date administered, directions for use and any special precautions or interactions. This is similar to the situation for drugs dispensed through a pharmacy. In terms of safety, the abbreviation GRAS on a label means Generally Recognized as Safe.



LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY BODIES


Aromatherapists need to be aware of a number of legislative regulations. These include The Medicines Act (1968); COSHH, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health; HSWA, Health and Safety at Work Act (1974); and CHIP, Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP 2 1994). The MCA (Medicines Control Agency) also has significant implications and constantly encroaches on the supply and use of products related to health.





HSWA – Health and Safety at Work Act


In 1974 the government passed the Health and Safety at Work Act. This enabling legislation allows regulations to control health and safety to be issued and revised as required, with new acts being passed. Such regulations cover working conditions, manual handling and, of particular relevance to aromatherapists, COSHH, CHIP and Safety Data Sheets.



COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health


This is a broad set of regulations designed to protect people from substances that are hazardous to health. When considering the implications of COSHH, an assessment is made based on a consideration of the risk to health resulting from work with potentially hazardous substances. It must include a justification for using the hazardous substance and a consideration of means of minimizing exposure to any substance identified as hazardous. The importance of this is highlighted by the Health and Safety Commission’s Approved Code of Practice. It is useful to distinguish between hazards and risks. The term hazard means the inherent potential for danger to human health. A substance with a low hazard is one that is inherently safe, e.g. water. A substance with a high hazard is one that is dangerous even in low doses, e.g. potassium cyanide. A risk is the actual chance that danger to health results from use of a substance. A knowledge of the hazard of a substance and the circumstances under which it will be used are needed to assess the risk.




AROMAFACT

Essential oils should always be used in a controlled manner and this usually involves a low concentration reaching the metabolizing tissues. This is consistent with the reasoning behind COSHH. There is no such thing as a harmless substance, but there is such a thing as a harmless dose.


It is essential to understand the hazards of chemical products so that they can be used safely. Important sources of information for aromatherapists include guidelines from bodies such as RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials), IFRA (International Fragrance Association), product labels and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).



CHIP – Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply Regulations)


The specific regulations applicable to aromatherapy are the CHIP 2 Regulations 1994; they are again related to whether a chemical is hazardous. The fundamental requirement of the CHIP regulations is to allocate what type of hazard a substance has: this is the category of danger and how the substance is classified. The hazard is then described by allocation of a risk phrase, hazard symbol and safety phrase. CHIP regulations may apply to essential oils and aromatherapy products. For example, the R65 risk phrase sets out criteria for classifying and labelling chemicals that could cause lung damage if swallowed, which is the ‘aspiration hazard’. This is possible because essential oils have low viscosity. Chemicals that meet the R65 risk category are classified as Harmful: May Cause Lung Damage if Swallowed, and the regulations require the appropriate danger symbol (a black X on an orange square with the word ‘hazardous’ below; represented in shorthand as Xn in printed or written matter) to be displayed on the labels and in the text for safety phrases. The container or label should display the advice ‘if swallowed, do not induce vomiting, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label’.




AROMAFACT

The R65 risk category would apply to essential oils with more than 10% hydrocarbons, which includes many essential oils including lavender, tea tree, cypress and bergamot. The wording on essential oils and aromatherapy products is obligatory if they are sold to, or likely to be used by, the general public and it is recommended for those used in industry.



MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheets (now usually referred to as SDS, Safety Data Sheets)


Suppliers, manufacturers and importers who make up the chain of supply of essential oils to the aromatherapist, and ultimately the client, are responsible for drawing up the MSDS. Each time an oil is repackaged or relabelled, a MSDS should be prepared and relevant additional information provided before it is passed on to the next customer in the chain of supply. When a chemical is supplied to the general public in retail outlets, by mail order or as free samples and prizes, a MSDS is only needed if the purchaser intends to use that chemical at work, if the chemical preparation is classified as dangerous for supply (according to the CHIP 2 regulation) or if the purchaser asks for a safety data sheet. For most practical situations the packaging and labelling will supply sufficient information for safe use. The labelling of aromatherapy oils and blends is described in Chapter 7.


A typical MSDS is shown for Eucalyptus globulus in Figure 8.1 and gives a fairly comprehensive range of information about the oil. The example is one provided by a British oil supplier, and shows that a reputable supplier can provide high-quality relevant data. There are a number of features included that are explained elsewhere in this book, i.e. specific gravity, LD50, GRAS, CHIP regulations, flash point, RIFM, hazard symbols, R phrase and S phrase. In addition there are a number of other acronyms that need to be identified.


• CAS – Chemical Abstracts Service Number is a US-based service that gives a summary of articles and papers in the scientific and chemical literature that relate to the chemical properties of a compound or substance. Each substance is given a code number and using that code a summary of information can be found.

• FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency is a US-based organization that offers plans, services and help in disaster management.

• FDA – Food and Drug Administration Agency is again a US-based government organization whose mission is to promote and protect the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use. It provides a blend of law and science aimed at protecting consumers.

• INCI – International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients is a document drawn up in response to the Cosmetic Products Directive of the EC and produces an inventory of fragrance ingredients (perfume and aromatic raw materials). The lists are representative of the basic materials used in perfumes and aromatic compositions. The lists were compiled mainly on the basis of information provided by EFFA (European Flavour and Fragrance Association). They constitute the inventory of fragrance ingredients. Fragrance ingredients do not need a common nomenclature because the fragrance or their ingredients must be indicated on the labels using the words ‘perfume’ or ‘flavour’. Hence the information on the identity of these substances consists of a chemical name identifying the substances in the clearest possible way. Such a system already exists in the ‘acquis communautair’, namely the EINECS Inventory (European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances) and ELINCS (European List of Notified Chemical Substances). Chemical substances can be described in an unequivocal manner with a chemical name, CAS number and EINECS number.

image image image image image image

Figure 8.1 A typical material safety data sheet. Courtesy of Medical Aromatherapy Training Services. Supplied by Charles Wells, Essentially Oils and Analytical Intelligence Ltd.


Restrictions on the use of a given ingredient are identified. Restrictions are set out in the Directive itself or in the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) code of practice. These restrictions may take the form of a quantitative limitation (expressed as a percentage of the final product or as a concentration for application to the skin), or the ingredient may have to meet certain specifications or may only be used in conjunction with certain specified ingredients. These substances are marked with one asterisk * for IFRA restrictions or with two asterisks ** for restrictions in the Cosmetic Products Directive.




AROMAFACT

In the fragrance inventory various qualities of a given ingredient, such as geraniol, have not been recorded separately; the same applies to different qualities of natural products with the same botanical origin. Orange oils from Brazil, Florida, California, etc., concentrated or otherwise, are all indicated under a single entry, i.e. ‘sweet orange extracts CAS8028-48-6, EINECS 232–433-8’. This rubric is defined as ‘Extractives and their physically modified derivatives such as tinctures, concretes, absolutes, essential oils, oleoresins, terpenes, terpene-free fractions, distillates, residues etc. obtained from Citrus sinensis, Rutaceae’.



• RIFM – Research Institute for Fragrance Materials is a US-based body with an ongoing programme for the testing of fragrance ingredients, including essential oils. The research follows strict scientific guidelines by independent experts. Information is collated and evaluated by a committee of specialists in all aspects of safety, composition and applications of fragrance chemicals. The reports are then transmitted to IFRA (International Fragrance Association) and these are passed on to their members in regular ‘IFRA Updates’. RIFM reports the results of safety testing on both essential oils and chemicals used in fragrances, in Raw Materials Monographs. The monographs generally include data on acute oral and dermal toxicity, skin irritation and sensitization and phototoxicity. A new volume of these is published every few years by Elsevier Science. Their function is to provide international links and encourage adherence to a good code of practice within the perfume industry and ensure that issues of safety are regularly addressed.

• IFRA – International Fragrance Association is based in Geneva and was founded in 1973. It represents the collective interests of the fragrance industry worldwide. It has established, and seeks to preserve, self-regulatory practices through the development and implementation of a code of Practice and Safety Guidelines utilized internationally, with the final objective being to protect consumers and the environment. Usage guidelines for fragrance materials are established through the application of available scientific data and by policing compliance with those guidelines. IFRA analyses and reviews relevant pending legislations and regulations and disseminates information and recommendations to members and other international organizations. The monitoring of legislative trends worldwide is one of its main missions, along with the promotion of a consistent approach and understanding essential for global cooperation. Its guidelines, in addition to the Code of Practice, cover categories including quality control, storage, handling, labelling and packaging, usage and safety standards for fragrance materials. The link between the work of RIFM and IFRA has been described whereby IFRA distributes advisory updates for use of materials based on reports from RIFM.



AROMAFACT

Much of the work of IFRA is relevant to essential oils used in aromatherapy and it is a very respected organization. Although primarily targeting the fragrance industry, it also makes important safety points for aromatherapy. For example, in 1998 IFRA recommended that the compound methyleugenol should not be used as a fragrance ingredient, as research had shown it to be carcinogenic in mice. It stated that the restriction did not currently apply to essential oils containing methyleugenol. A formal statement is now due to be issued following further scientific research relating to naturally occurring methyleugenol. It is a major component of Melaleuca bracteata (a type of tea tree known as black tea tree). Methyleugenol chemotypes exist for Ocimum sanctum and Cinnamomum longepaniculatum, but these are not usually available commercially. However, it is sometimes present as a trace constituent in oils of basil, cinnamon bark, citronella, rose and ylang ylang.

Related posts:

  1. Health, disease and therapy
  2. Processing, extraction and purity
  3. Analytical techniques
  4. Families of compounds that occur in essential oils

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Apr 2, 2017 | Posted by in GENERAL SURGERY | Comments Off on Handling, safety and practical applications for use of essential oils

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