What are other uses for lanolin?
Because it’s an excellent water-repellent, lanolin is used on oil rigs as a corrosion inhibitor (an agent that slows down the rusting process). For the same reason, spare auto parts are sometimes coated in lanolin when they’re put into long-term storage. And, of course, because it’s chemically similar to many of the oils naturally produced by human skin, it’s widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, when lanolin is mixed with suitable vegetable oils or soft paraffin, it makes a cream so good at penetrating the skin that it has been used as a ‘carrier’ to deliver pharmaceutical drugs subcutaneously (meaning just below the skin). Lanolin can also be used as a lubricant and a leather finish and preservative. You’ll even find lanolin in some varnishes and paints. Further reading and websites:: Nutrition and Health, Book 3 of ST240 Our Chemical Environment, The Open University (2000), ISBN 0 7492 51433 University of Cincinnati – the chemistry of fats and oils explained. Nutritio
