Formation of methanol and formate in Wistar rats after oral administration of methylated rapeseed oil: a fuel for lamps.

Low viscosity, low surface tension and low volatility are features of lamp oils contributing to chemical pneumonia that can occur after ingestion. Because lamp oils with such physico-chemical properties have been forbidden in the European Community from July 2000 onward, industry has developed different products, mostly based upon rapeseed oil. The fatty acids of these oils are methylated.