Traces of asbestos found in talc products may trigger asbestos lung cancer in children, according to medical experts from Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, India . This warning comes in the wake of a recall affecting 33,000 of talcum powder products by health care giant Johnson & Johnson, which has been targeted in numerous cancer lawsuits by plaintiffs claiming their illnesses were caused by asbestos-contaminated talc.

About Asbestos and Talc

The term “asbestos” refers to a number of silicate minerals that are fibrous and flexible enough to be woven into fabric. Two types of asbestos were commonly used during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The most common is chrysotile, also known as “white” asbestos or serpentine. This variety is made up of relatively soft, curly fibers, and was used extensively in construction and industry for fireproof applications. The other type is called amphibole, which may be blue (crocidolite) or brown (tremolite). Amphibole asbestos consists of hard, needle-like fibers that when ingested or inhaled, can drill straight through organ tissue, causing chronic inflammation that can lead to mesothelioma, a particularly deadly cancer of the visceral lining.

Talc is also a silicate mineral, and is formed by similar geologic processes. For this reason, talc is often found in proximity to asbestos deposits. This may be why Johnson & Johnson’s talc products were found to have asbestos contamination.

Asbestos Lung Diseases

Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period; that is to say, it can be years or even decades between asbestos exposure and the manifestation of symptoms. It is for this reason that proving causation in a court of law can be challenging. It is also why, according to Dr. Rajesh Chawla, that children who are exposed to asbestos in baby powder may develop cancer many years later.

Asbestosis, a non-malignant respiratory disease, is the most common asbestos disease, followed by asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the rarest as well as the deadliest; 80 percent of all cases are attributed to asbestos exposure, while the remaining 20 percent are caused by radiation exposure.

Was Johnson & Johnson Hiding Something?

There has reportedly been powerful evidence that has come to light indicating that talc used by Johnson & Johnson has been contaminated with asbestos for decades, despite the company’s claims to the contrary.

In December of 2018, Reuters reported on internal company documents that have surfaced during the discovery process in recent lawsuits. These documents show that executives and scientists at Johnson & Johnson were aware of asbestos contamination in its talc products and went to great lengths to keep that information from becoming public.

Other Unlikely Sources of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos-contaminated talc has also been found in a number of cosmetics. Unfortunately, regulations governing cosmetic-grade talc are far from adequate. As a result, even makeup products designed for children (such as glitter powder) may be contaminated and asbestos has been found in as many as 17 different products.

If you are concerned about asbestos lung cancer from talc, you should consider using products with corn starch or other alternatives.