Menthol: Health Risks, Uses & Potential Dangers

A compound found in peppermint plants, menthol produces a soothing and sometimes cooling sensation when applied to the skin or taken orally. It is a local anesthetic and calcium blocker. Menthol is commonly associated with its use in some varieties of cigarettes, though it is also found in products that treat congestion, coughs and sore throats.

Menthol Overdose

• Though classified for food use by the FDA, menthol can be toxic when taken in large doses. In its pure form, as little as a teaspoon can be fatal. The estimated daily acceptable intake is up to 200 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.

Respiratory Distress in Infants

• A number of reports exist suggesting menthol toxicity in infants. Because of respiratory tract infections, these infants received home treatments that included menthol-containing ointments. The ointments induced severe respiratory distress in most cases and cyanosis in the rest. Symptoms persisted for many days. Parents should select products without menthol for infants and young children and be especially careful that menthol products are not be used on the face.

Possible Toxic Effects

• Some older studies have indicated some possible toxic effects of menthol, often in cases where volatile menthol had been used in products such as mentholated cigarettes or peppermints, or in cases of addiction to substances containing menthol. In these cases, red or purple skin discoloration, heart rhythm problems or slow heart beat have occurred.

Menthol in Cigarettes

• Independent and FDA studies have concluded that the addition of menthol to cigarettes does not significantly alter the incidence or severity of effects attributable to smoke exposure. However, the FDA has released comments suggesting that menthol may make smoking more addictive.