What are some other uses of petroleum products besides for fuel?

Answer 1

So, what is made out of petroleum? When people think about what’s made from petroleum, they usually think first of gasoline and diesel fuel, but the fact is that our lives are filled with products made in whole or in part out of petroleum. Below is a list of common items you may never have suspected were made from, or contain ingredients derived from, petroleum. Due to the fact that nearly all plastics are made from petroleum, I’ve excluded most items that obviously are, or contain, plastic from this list. A small number of products in the U.S. are currently being made out of a corn-derived plastic called polylactic acid (PLA), but such products typically advertise their plant origins prominently as having ecological benefits. It’s possible to make bioplastics from other plant materials, as well, such as cotton, wood, and tapioca. Of course, many of the items on this list can be, and are being, made from materials other than petroleum, but all are quite commonly made from petroleum. This list is derived in part from one included in a curriculum written for Grades 3-7 titled “Why Do We Need Petroleum?” (which is online at www.beloit.edu/~SEPM/Geology_and_ the_enviro/Petroleum_need.html) but I have revised it considerably. Keep in mind that the effects of peaking oil and natural gas production will be felt first as rising prices, which will result over time in price increases for everything that’s made out of oil and gas. In other words, everything on this list and countless other products can be expected to become increasingly expensive over time. Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in processed foods Sponges Rubberbands Mascara Hairspray Liquid and bar soaps Asphalt Chewing gum CDs and DVDs Artificial fragrances Paint thinner Adhesives/Glues Stuffed animals Many prescription and over-thecounter drugs Varnishes/stains Plastic food packaging coatings inside: steel food cans; paper wrappers, cups, boxes, trays, and cartons; jar lids; and more. Gloves Game Boys/PlayStations/Xboxes Candles and other products made with paraffin wax, including some brands of chocolate Saccharin (Sweet’N Low) Ink Dishwashing liquids Paintbrushes Telephones/Cellphones Insecticides and herbicides Antiseptics Fishing lures Deodorant Vinyl flooring Carpet cleaners Yarn Tents Paint rollers Floor cleaner and wax Shoes Electrician's tape Scrubber pads Rollerskate wheels Skis Hand and body lotions Clothesline Dyes Soft contact and eyeglass lenses Shampoo and conditioner Kerosene Most synthetic fabrics including nylon, polyester, Lycra/spandex and acrylic Food preservatives Fishing rods Oven cleaners Transparent tape Anaesthetics Upholstery Dice Disposable diapers Audio and Video Cassettes Mops Paints Purses Electric blankets Awnings Ammonia Many automotive components: batteries, bumpers, dashboards, upholstery, seat cushions, carpeting, hoses, Power Steering fluid, antifreeze, motor oil and filters, tires, hubcaps, floormats, seatbelts, wiring, sound insulation, windshield washer fluid, belts, wiper blades, etc. Plexiglass Synthetic rubber/latex Pillows Vitamin capsules Fabric softeners Movie film Rubbing alcohol Loudspeakers Boats Toilet bowl cleaner Credit cards Fertilizers Crayons Insect repellent Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes Toilet seats Air fresheners Caulking Roofing shingles Drain cleaners Fishing boots Lifejackets Balloons Shower curtains Garden hoses Golf balls Curtains Plywood adhesive Umbrellas Laundry detergents Dental floss Beach umbrellas Rubber cement Sunglasses Putty Faucet washers Cold cream Bandages Antihistamines Hair coloring nail polish False teeth Petroleum jelly Toothpaste Golf bags Tennis rackets Toothbrushes Spot/stain removers Perfumes and colognes Luggage Wire insulation Shoe polish Shower doors Cortisone Carpeting Artificial turf Heart valves Lipstick Artificial limbs Hearing aids Vaporizers Aspirin Shaving cream Parachutes Propane Vinyl siding Motorcycles Many Birth Control devices including synthetic latex and polyurethane condoms, diaphragms, sponges, and intrauterine devices Baby bottles, pacifiers, and teething rings Industrial lubricants Solvents Natural gas (methane) Jet fuel Gaskets Computer components Window cleaner Charcoal lighter fluid Silverware and other metal polishes Dishwasher detergent Disinfectants