Where It Comes From
Made to produce resins and other chemicals; forms as glycidyl fatty acid esters during high‑temperature refining of vegetable oils; also detected in tobacco smoke [1][2][3].
How You Are Exposed
Mainly by eating foods made with refined oils (including some infant formulas), by workplace inhalation/skin contact during manufacturing, and from tobacco smoke [2][3][1].
Why It Matters
Genotoxic; causes tumors in animals. Classified by IARC as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) and by NTP as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. JECFA did not set a safe intake level for glycidol [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Workers handling glycidol or related processes; infants fed formulas made with refined oils; people who consume many products high in refined palm oil; smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke [2][3][1].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke; choose foods/oils and infant formulas with lower glycidyl esters when available; limit intake of highly refined palm‑oil products; at work, use closed systems, ventilation, and protective gear [3][2].
References
- [1]IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Some Industrial Chemicals, Vol. 77: Glycidol (2000).
- [2]National Toxicology Program (NTP). Report on Carcinogens: Glycidol (Reasonably Anticipated to Be a Human Carcinogen), latest edition.
- [3]WHO/FAO JECFA. Evaluation of Certain Contaminants in Food: Glycidyl fatty acid esters and glycidol (2016).