The purpose of the project was to investigate the toxicity of degreasing and lubricating
agents in spray form. Agents that are used in the automotive industry, in large machines
such as agricultural and construction machines, and in ship's engine rooms.

Publications coming out of the Sikker-Motor project

9. Sørli JB, Shin HK, Frydendall KB, Wedebye EB, Nikolov N, Frederiksen M, Hadrup N. Toxicological potential of substances in spray-formulated degreasers and lubricants - with a literature review on asthma potentials of ammonia, maleic anhydride and methyl methacrylate. Toxicology. 2025 Oct 15:154312. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154312. PMID: 41106493

8. Sørli JB, Sengupta SR,Hadrup N. The correlation between lung surfactant function inhibition in vitro and the effect on breathing of mice during inhalation exposure - A study of spray-formulated engine/brake cleaners and lubricating products. Toxicology 2025 Sep 27;519:154287. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154287.

7. Mikkelsen K, Sørli JB, Frederiksen M, Hadrup N. 

Risk assessment of the asthma-induction potential of substances in spray products for car cabin detailing - based on EU's Chemical Agents Directive, using harmonised classifications and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR).

Toxicology. 2023 Aug 15;495:153612. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.

6. Sørli, J.B., Jensen, A.C.Ø., Mortensen, A., Szarek, J., Chatzigianelli, E., Gutierrez,
C.A.T., Jacobsen, N.R., Poulsen, S.S., Hafez, I., Loizides, C., Biskos, G., Hougaard, K.S.,
Vogel, U., Hadrup, N., 2023a. Genotoxicity in the absence of inflammation after tungsten
inhalation in mice. Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 104074.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2023.104074

5. Sørli, J.B., Jensen, A.C.Ø., Mortensen, A., Szarek, J., Gutierrez, C.A.T., Givelet, L.,
Loeschner, K., Loizides, C., Hafez, I., Biskos, G., Vogel, U., Hadrup, N., 2023b.
Pulmonary toxicity of molybdenum disulphide after inhalation in mice. Toxicology 485,
153428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2023.153428

4. Sørli, Jorid B, Frederiksen, M., Nikolov, N.G., Wedebye, E.B., Hadrup, N., 2022.
Identification of substances with a carcinogenic potential in spray-formulated
engine/brake cleaners and lubricating products, available in the European Union (EU) -
based on IARC and EU-harmonised classifications and QSAR predictions. Toxicology
477, 153261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2022.153261

3. Hadrup, N, Sørli, J.B., Sharma, A.K., 2022b. Response to commentary on “Pulmonary
toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity evaluation of molybdenum, lithium, and
tungsten: A review”. Toxicology 480, 153323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2022.153323

2. Hadrup, N, Sørli, J.B., Sharma, A.K., 2022. Pulmonary toxicity, genotoxicity, and
carcinogenicity evaluation of molybdenum, lithium, and tungsten: A review. Toxicology
467, 153098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2022.153098

1. Hadrup, N., Frederiksen, M., Sharma, A.K., 2021. Toxicity of boric acid, borax and
other boron containing compounds: A review. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 121, 104873.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.104873

Overall, we built up a database of ingredients in spray products for machine
maintenance. We discovered that there is a genotoxic and carcinogenic potential in
cleaning and lubricating products in spray form. We uncovered the general pulmonary
toxicity of important ingredients boron, lithium, molybdenum (disulfide) and tungsten.
We investigated the acute lung toxicity and effect on lung surfactant function of 12 and
20 substances/products, respectively. We built a database of substances for interior car
care and made a risk assessment of their asthma potential. At the same time, the project's
results contribute knowledge about how existing databases and the QSAR computer
technique can be used to assess the risks of chemicals in the working environment, and
uncovered aspects that can be optimised in future projects.

We believe that the results contribute significantly to risk assessment in the area and to
improving the working environment in the industry. The results can be used by
manufacturers to phase out unwanted substances in safe-by-design processes. At the
same time, users and their advisors can use data to choose products that contain the
fewest substances potentially harmful to health. Finally, data can be used by regulatory
bodies to get an overview of the area.