The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory for consumers to stop using certain cosmetics because of the risk of asbestos lung cancer and other related asbestos disease.

The advisory was issued after the agency’s own testing revealed asbestos contamination in makeup products manufactured by Beauty Plus Global and Claire’s Stores, Inc.

Why the Asbestos Lung Cancer Risk?

In recent years, manufacturers of various body powders containing talc have been named as defendants in litigation alleging that the talc caused the plaintiffs’ cancers. An issue that has been raised by plaintiffs is that asbestos and talc are geologically similar, and are the result of the same geological conditions. Therefore, according to the American Cancer Society, it is not unusual to find talc deposits in proximity to asbestos. Asbestos lung cancer and other asbestos diseases have long been considered occupational hazards for talc miners.

What many consumers do not realize is that many types of cosmetics – including blush, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick – contain talc.

A Brief Chronology

As of September 2019, the FDA has issued three advisories on makeup products by the two aforementioned companies. The first advisory came out in early March, after asbestos contamination was discovered in Claire’s Eye Shadows, compact powder and contour palette.

In June there was a second asbestos lung cancer advisory after Claire’s  Stores and Beauty Plus issued voluntary recalls following FDA testing that yielded positive results for asbestos fibers. Most recently, the FDA announced that Beauty Plus has voluntarily recalled four of its City Color cosmetic products that tested positive for asbestos during the agency’s ongoing testing.

Asbestos Lung Cancer and Other Diseases

Virtually everyone on the planet has had some exposure to asbestos, yet asbestos diseases remain relatively rare and have primarily affected those who worked in industrial occupations where asbestos was widely used, mined and/or processed. Asbestos lung cancer is the result of chronic inflammation of the air passages, caused by asbestos fibers that cannot be expelled. Tobacco use appears to greatly exacerbate the cancer risk.

This condition should not be confused with asbestosis, which is a build-up of scar tissue within the lungs, or mesothelioma, a cancer of the pleural or visceral lining, caused by exposure to two specific types of asbestos.

The prognosis for asbestos lung cancer and other diseases is usually grim. Because asbestos diseases have a long latency period (the time between initial exposure and manifestation of symptoms), it is usually not detected until an advanced stage.

What To Do if You Have Affected Products

A list of cosmetics that may pose a risk of asbestos lung cancer can be found at the FDA website. The FDA strongly advises any consumers who have one or more of the products that have been recalled to stop using it immediately.

Both consumers and health care providers are also asked to report any adverse events that may be related to talc through the Medwatch Voluntary Reporting webpage.