Not toxic. Period. BLO is probably the safest, most environmentally friendly finish of any product on the market. Others, such as Tung oil and Watco (which is based on BLO but with other additives), are far more of a concern.
As always, do not take something from me — or this non-scientific site — as gospel. You have the research capability at your fingertips to get the real info. That said, will you understand it (did the author here, even, understand it?)?
1. Do not substitute dietary flaxseed oil for boiled linseed oil (BLO) or raw linseed oil. The latter two are finishes. But flaxseed oil goes rancid. You don’t want your wood finishes going rancid.
2. People are worried about the “siccatives” added to BLO because of the words “heavy metal.” They think “nuclear reactor” when they hear them. Yes, cobalt is a heavy metal. But so is the iron in the axhead whose hickory handle you’re putting BLO on. Are you afraid of iron?
a) First of all, these two things (cobalt and manganese) are in your diet — just as iron is!
b) They are essential to your health. Without them — same as farmers do for their animals — you’d have to take them as nutritional supplements or get shots to get them
into your body. (The thing that makes vitamin B12 work is the cobalt in it). Any excess amount is flushed out.
c)
Can you take so much that it’s toxic? Yes. Almost everything you eat has a point of consumption that is “toxic.” But how in the world would you expose yourself to a significant amount to be toxic? You can drink BLO — if you don’t mind diarrhea and stomach aches. (Don’t drink BLO). Plus, there’s different ways to create the cobalt and manganese salt compounds. BLO does NOT contain the dietary formulations of these salts. Still, you’d have to concentrate them and ingest them as tablets or something. Then, yep, you’ll probably get sick — could even die — just the same as if you o.d. on Vitamins A, C, D (especially D), K…. et al. You can even die from drinking too much water. But an obstacle remains, how? How would you drink that much? How would you expose yourself excessively enough for cobalt and manganese to be toxic? They don’t accumulate in your body. Excess amounts are naturally flushed out in your urine and excreted with your feces — same as
any salt is. You’re a human being, coolest mammal on the planet because your body holds exactly what it needs, flushes the excess out (other animals, like cows, etc., need a constant resupply). Bottom line, what’s potentially toxic is not likely toxic in any likely scenario. It’s why the SDS for BLO specifically says no known adverse health effects. The ONLY warning is the same two warnings put on
any oil finish: 1) Risk of spontaneous combustion if left on crumpled rags in poorly ventilated areas; 2) If you atomize it (make an aerosol of it, mist it), wear a mask. Vapors won’t hurt you but breathing in an oil mist might. Because it’s a drying oil. And you’re essentially coating your respiratory system and lungs with the same substance you’re spraying onto wood to create a hard durable finish. It’s not smart to coat your lungs with something intended to dry into a hard durable finish.
d) Still afraid of cobalt and manganese salt? Want to minimize your exposure? Stop eating meat, fish and dairy…and stop drinking beer. All these have a ton more cobalt in them than BLO. And to avoid manganese, stop eating salads. In fact, don’t touch things in your home. Most clear glass items (windows, bottles, glasses, serving platters) have cobalt in them to make them clear glass. As do a lot of ceramic finishes. … Just…. stop walking around in your environment, don’t eat, drink or touch anything. Most of it has more cobalt in it that the BLO did.
e) They are only present, in trace amounts, as ionically neutral metals (hence, “salt” — cobalt and manganese “salts”). That’s what makes them drying agents.
Don’t take my word for it. Fact check these things. NO ONE wants the responsibility entailed in pronouncing something is “safe” for you. All I’m saying is, stop listening to Chicken Little. Take each thing I said here and look it up. Am I right?
And THEN…. if you’re still concerned - don’t use it. I can’t stand listening to tards talk about the “toxicity of BLO” or the “heavy metals in it.” But bottom line, you don’t
have to use it. Just use raw linseed oil instead. No additives. Absolutely, perfectly fine — and no reason to look up anything, because there’s nothing else in it. It will just take much longer to dry, period. But you get exactly the same, lustrous, glass-smooth, non-blister-raising finish as with BLO. Just takes longer. But it’s the same stuff.
17 comments
jfbradfield
Yes. All linseed oil and boiled linseed oil finishes are nontoxic. The only ones that are toxic are those with additional additives or other formulations. Watco, for instance, based on boiled linseed oil, carries warnings about toxicity. Which means, you can make a product containing BLO that also has toxins. But itself, no. — And as with all things, you need to look this up for yourself. Do not ask others to relieve you of concern about your health. No one wants that responsibility. (So don’t take my word for it. Read the manufacturer’s SDS for the specific product and formulation).
jfbradfield
Yeah, no. Don’t want to do that, as flaxseed oil goes rancid. Just use raw linseed oil.
jfbradfield
Not toxic. Period. BLO is probably the safest, most environmentally friendly finish of any product on the market. Others, such as Tung oil and Watco (which is based on BLO but with other additives), are far more of a concern.
As always, do not take something from me — or this non-scientific site — as gospel. You have the research capability at your fingertips to get the real info. That said, will you understand it (did the author here, even, understand it?)? 1. Do not substitute dietary flaxseed oil for boiled linseed oil (BLO) or raw linseed oil. The latter two are finishes. But flaxseed oil goes rancid. You don’t want your wood finishes going rancid. 2. People are worried about the “siccatives” added to BLO because of the words “heavy metal.” They think “nuclear reactor” when they hear them. Yes, cobalt is a heavy metal. But so is the iron in the axhead whose hickory handle you’re putting BLO on. Are you afraid of iron? a) First of all, these two things (cobalt and manganese) are in your diet — just as iron is! b) They are essential to your health. Without them — same as farmers do for their animals — you’d have to take them as nutritional supplements or get shots to get them into your body. (The thing that makes vitamin B12 work is the cobalt in it). Any excess amount is flushed out. c) Can you take so much that it’s toxic? Yes. Almost everything you eat has a point of consumption that is “toxic.” But how in the world would you expose yourself to a significant amount to be toxic? You can drink BLO — if you don’t mind diarrhea and stomach aches. (Don’t drink BLO). Plus, there’s different ways to create the cobalt and manganese salt compounds. BLO does NOT contain the dietary formulations of these salts. Still, you’d have to concentrate them and ingest them as tablets or something. Then, yep, you’ll probably get sick — could even die — just the same as if you o.d. on Vitamins A, C, D (especially D), K…. et al. You can even die from drinking too much water. But an obstacle remains, how? How would you drink that much? How would you expose yourself excessively enough for cobalt and manganese to be toxic? They don’t accumulate in your body. Excess amounts are naturally flushed out in your urine and excreted with your feces — same as any salt is. You’re a human being, coolest mammal on the planet because your body holds exactly what it needs, flushes the excess out (other animals, like cows, etc., need a constant resupply). Bottom line, what’s potentially toxic is not likely toxic in any likely scenario. It’s why the SDS for BLO specifically says no known adverse health effects. The ONLY warning is the same two warnings put on any oil finish: 1) Risk of spontaneous combustion if left on crumpled rags in poorly ventilated areas; 2) If you atomize it (make an aerosol of it, mist it), wear a mask. Vapors won’t hurt you but breathing in an oil mist might. Because it’s a drying oil. And you’re essentially coating your respiratory system and lungs with the same substance you’re spraying onto wood to create a hard durable finish. It’s not smart to coat your lungs with something intended to dry into a hard durable finish. d) Still afraid of cobalt and manganese salt? Want to minimize your exposure? Stop eating meat, fish and dairy…and stop drinking beer. All these have a ton more cobalt in them than BLO. And to avoid manganese, stop eating salads. In fact, don’t touch things in your home. Most clear glass items (windows, bottles, glasses, serving platters) have cobalt in them to make them clear glass. As do a lot of ceramic finishes. … Just…. stop walking around in your environment, don’t eat, drink or touch anything. Most of it has more cobalt in it that the BLO did. e) They are only present, in trace amounts, as ionically neutral metals (hence, “salt” — cobalt and manganese “salts”). That’s what makes them drying agents. Don’t take my word for it. Fact check these things. NO ONE wants the responsibility entailed in pronouncing something is “safe” for you. All I’m saying is, stop listening to Chicken Little. Take each thing I said here and look it up. Am I right? And THEN…. if you’re still concerned - don’t use it. I can’t stand listening to tards talk about the “toxicity of BLO” or the “heavy metals in it.” But bottom line, you don’t have to use it. Just use raw linseed oil instead. No additives. Absolutely, perfectly fine — and no reason to look up anything, because there’s nothing else in it. It will just take much longer to dry, period. But you get exactly the same, lustrous, glass-smooth, non-blister-raising finish as with BLO. Just takes longer. But it’s the same stuff.Judy McGovern
I purchased 2 natural wood microwave carts from IKEA . The directions say to oil them before using. What can I use that is safe for animals and at the same time safe for humans since food will be sitting on them. My son who is a furniture refinisher said to get boiled linseed oil. Can you tell me the ingredients in boiled linseed oil and if it’s toxic and safe to use around food?
Scott Ellis
You dont answer if it is toxic at all. You just say that cheap boiled linseed oil is what people are likely to be thinking of. Are they thinking its toxic and correct or not? Thank you,
Shawn Chong
Great explanation, thank you so much! I will be buying flaxseed oil meant for ingestion, for wood finishing!
Chris
Thanks for the good info.
I’m now going to read the material safety data sheet before buying finishesEsther
hi, does anyone know of a brand that IS nontoxic?
sean
what about Refined linseed oil?thx
Dell
The link supplied by Ryan is for Sunnyside RAW Linseed oil.
The Sunnyside BOILED Linseed OIl does indeed contain toxins.
https://www.sunnysidecorp.com/pdfs/SDS_87216.pdf
Chris
Thanks for the good article and for sharing your thoughts about the toxicity of linseed oil. It is a shame indeed that those oils are sold under the label of a natural oil, mentioning only in the small print that it’s toxic.
Another issue with the boiled linseed oil is that it tends to ignite and there are quite a few accidents in the US every year: cloth or rugs ignite and cause a fire if they are not properly washed out after applying boiled linseed oil.
Hec
Hi,
I’m considering using boiled linseed oil to seal the floor of a shipping container instead of the Uaual marine epoxy. The goal is to prevent vapors from the floors treated with pesticides escaping into the container, since we are going to live in it. Is anyone familiar with boiled linseed oil used to seal pesticides inside of wood so that the vapors don’t escape? Thanks, HecMark
The safety data sheet is linked on the Sunnyside website, and indicates that it is indeed 100% non-toxic pure linseed oil… I bought some and it seems fine
Tharushi
Thank you for important information
Mason
Agreed. If you are considering a particular brand of boiled linseed oil and want to make sure it doesn’t have the plasticizers and heavy metals in it, ask the hardware store for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) if they can’t print you a copy, you should be able to find it online. By law, chemical substances like this have to have an MSDS available before it can be sold to the public—so as to avoid any harmful chemical reactions and to receive classificationfor storage and handling. The MSDS should tell you the list of ingredients, even if the product label doesn’t.
Ryan
Hi Maia,
Thank you.Wonderful article. I’m currently seeking non-toxic Linseed Oil and came across Sunnyside brand. What are your thoughts? I’m concerned as the gallon containers are quite cheap. Do you think they’re honestly non-toxic? http://www.sunnysidecorp.com/product.php?p=cf&b=s&n=873G5
Robert
This article about the toxicity of boiled linseed oil isn’t very helpful because it doesn’t tell me how to tell the cheap boiled linseed oil from the not so cheap but still nontoxic boiled linseed oil. I still left guessing. Thanks for explaining the rest though.