Talc Overview
Talc is very popular in the consumer and beauty product industry and can be found in many different products, such as lipstick, cosmetic powder, foundation, eyeshadow, blush, and even some makeup products marketed to children, according to the New York Times. Because of this, the likelihood of being exposed to talc is high.
Talc is popular because it helps absorb moisture and creates a silky feel. This is why it’s used in so many different cosmetics products. Talc is also found in other places, too. For example, it is in food processing and can be identified in certain supplements. When consumer groups have analyzed other items, talc has even been found in products like crayons.
Using a commercially produced cosmetic product might lead consumers to assume the product is safe for regular use, but thousands of talc lawsuits tell a different story.
Ovarian Cancer Talc Risks
Many of the lawsuits targeting manufacturers of talc products have alleged there is a connection between talc powder and ovarian cancer. It has been argued that regular application of talc products, such as powder used for feminine hygiene purposes, could contain enough particles to ultimately cause a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
When talcum powder is applied to the genital area, or placed into sanitary napkins, it may travel through the uterus, vagina, and fallopian tubes to cause issues with the woman’s ovaries, according to thousands of lawsuits. One in every 75 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over the course of her life, according to the National Center for Health Research. One of the challenges with ovarian cancer is that it cannot be easily screened in the early stages. This means that many women who develop ovarian cancer don’t know until the disease is in the later stages.
Talc & Asbestos
The safety of pure talc is hotly debated by researchers and health professionals. However, experts agree that talc is dangerous when contaminated with asbestos.
Asbestos is a well known mineral linked to serious cancers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although the use of asbestos has been mostly phased out, talc may be contaminated with asbestos during the mining process since the minerals naturally occur near each other in the earth.
Miners and their family members have recently claimed there is a connection between talc powder and lung cancer. Studies, according to the American Cancer Society, have produced mixed results, with some finding that miners face a higher risk of lung cancer due to the asbestos in talc, and others finding no connection.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) supports this theory and classifies asbestos-contaminated talc as “carcinogenic to humans.” Even when not contaminated with asbestos, the IARC classifies talc used genitally as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
Unfortunately, talc products used by consumers may end up contaminated by asbestos. In late 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of its baby powder after FDA testing revealed asbestos contamination.
Although the company later contested these results, Johnson & Johnson discontinued its baby powder sales in the United States in May 2020. According to the consumer goods giant, this decision was not based on safety concerns and instead was a response to consumer habits “fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising.”
Talc Alternatives
Due to many of the problems raised by consumer groups, many people are looking for talc alternatives. Cornstarch is a good option for teenagers and adults when using the product on the skin.
Talc Safety
Even though manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson claim that talc in baby powder and other products is safe for regular use, safety advocates are calling for a deeper dive into the issue.
Safe Cosmetics recommends consumers try to avoid the ingredient as much as possible, particularly if a product containing the substance if used in the pelvic region. Even though studies appear to have failed to draw conclusive results about talc, asbestos, and cancer risks, there are plenty of lawsuits from people all over the country stating that the companies using talc for beauty products have not told the full story about the possible risks and have left consumers to pay the price.
