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Description of talc used in baby powder & body powder. Photographs of talc particles in transmitted & polarized light - talc under the microscope.
Page top photograph: talc particles at 100x in polarized light, photographed by the author [DF] at McCrone Research in Chicago.
This article series provides a master list of the forms in which asbestos was used, a list of known asbestos-containing materials, and links to detailed articles about individual asbestos-containing products & materials found in buildings and in a wide range of products used in both home and industry.
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Physical Properties of Talc & its Asbestos Content
Talc or talcum is essentially a clay mineral made of hydrated magnesium silicate.
The chemical formula for talc is H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Some talc deposits also contain asbestos, so some talc products might also contain that material, depending on where the talc was mined.
Asbestos-containing talc is known to be a respiratory hazard although even pure asbestos-free talc may be hazardous as well. Some of that research is cited in this article.
Watch out: because talc was used in or on a wide variety of products and in some cases is still used in some products including cosmetics (Gordon 2014), asbestos-containing talc might be on or contained in some of those items.
However not all products containing talc contain detectable asbestos, and some other products using talc (rubber band dust) involved so little talc that in our opinion it's not likely that there is a measurable asbestos hazard from their use or presence.
Physically to the touch talc feels soft and oily; the mineral is very soft, having a Mohs scale grade of 1.
One of the earliest providers of talcum powder as a consumer product was Johnson & Johnson's® Baby Powder first marketed in 1894 by that company who was already a producer of medical products. Johnson's® Baby Powder became the progenitor of that famous company's baby products business. A US FDA study (cited below) did not detect asbestos in the company's baby powder.
Some currently-sold body powders such as Gold Bond® Ultimate Comfort Body Powder & Johnson & Johnson's® Baby Powders do not contain talc but other body and baby-powder products do use talk.
Bottom line: the fact that a product contains talc can not by itself be taken as evidence that that product contains asbestos.
The J&J company currently sells multiple powder types and brands including two types of baby powder products for which the company lists these ingredients:
Traditional talc-based baby and body powder: Talc, fragrances.
Some of the company's comments about talc and about asbestos in their products are included in this article.
Watch out: OPINION: because some of them contain extremely-small particles in the 1u range or even smaller, body powders containing even asbestos-free talc might be a respiratory irritant or hazard. Be sure that you use such products with care, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Do Current Baby Powder or Body Powder Contain Talc?
Maybe. Talc is currently used in some but not all baby and body powders.
Historically talc was the main and sometimes the only ingredient in body powders used by adults as well as in baby powder.
Most older body and baby powders produced by many companies world wide were typically based on talc as the primary ingredient, often with the addition of a fragrance.
[Click to enlarge any image]
The Johnson & Johnson's baby powder shown above as well as at least one of the company's current baby powders indicate talc as the product's principal ingredient. The company, in the references we give here, maintains that the talc in its products is safe.
That company also offers Johnson's Lavender Powder, a cornstarch-based baby powder that also contains lavender and chamomile. The company's web page describing this product, one of five it describes as "baby powder" does not contain the word "baby" on the product front label but the product description refers to
baby" as
"... Soothe your baby’s senses after bath time or while diapering with lavender powder. Our cornstarch baby powder with lavender & chamomile is designed to soothe and gently absorb excess moisture on baby’s skin, leaving it dry, fresh and smooth. " - J&J Lavender powder information retrieved 2018/07/15, original source: https://www.johnsonsbaby.com/baby-products/johnsons-lavender-baby-powder?upcean=381370030171
Talc's properties that made it an excellent lubricant also made it a successful body powder as we seen this product from Johnson & Johnson from 1996.
According to the American Cancer Society talc was removed from commercial talc products in the 1970's. Just what is the scope of "commercial products" is unclear.
J&J Baby Powder Talc Content in Recent Product?
In the U.S.2018 and continuing into 2020 a flurry of concern about the risk of asbestos in Johnson & Johnson's baby powder raised a new cloud of dusty powder worth reporting and underdtanding here.
Girion, Leslie, "Special Report: J&J Knew for Decades That Asbestos Lurked in Its Baby Powder", Reuters cited in in The New York Times, 14 December 2018, original source: www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/14/us/14reuters-johnson-johnson-cancer-special-report.html located 2019/11/01 at https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
Excerpts: A Reuters examination of many of those documents, as well as deposition and trial testimony, shows that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public. ... It didn’t tell the agency that at least three tests by three different labs from 1972 to 1975 had found asbestos in its talc – in one case at levels reported as “rather high.” ... The World Health Organization and other authorities recognize no safe level of exposure to asbestos. While most people exposed never develop cancer, for some, even small amounts of asbestos are enough to trigger the disease years later. Just how small hasn’t been established. Many plaintiffs allege that the amounts they inhaled when they dusted themselves with tainted talcum powder were enough.
Hsu, Tiffany & Roni Caryn Rabin, "Baby Powder is Recalled for Asbestos", The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2019, p. B1,3.
Excerpt: Johnson & Johnson, which has spent years insisting that its baby powder is safe, recalled 33,000 bottles of the p;roduct on Friday after the Food and Drug Administration discovered evidence of asbestos, a known carcinogen in one of the bottles. ... The decision to pull the baby powder, sourced from China an ddistributed last year ...
... The recall was prompted by F.D.A.'s discovery of trace [emphasis ours] levels of chrysotile asbestos in samples from a bottle of baby powder bought from an online retailer. ... lot number 22318RB ... out of an abundance of caution ...
... Dr. Susan Nicholson, Johnson & Johnson's vice president of women's healty said ... that the FDA's report showed "an extremely unusual finding" that was "inconsistent with our testing to date."
... Several earlier F.D.A. tests, including one in the past year, and another about a decade ago, did not detect any asbestsos in samples of baby powder. ... This year, after consumer tests found asbestos in makeup kits for children sold at Claire's, the F.D.A. followed up with its own tests.It detected the carcinogen in half of 20 products, including Claire's eye showadow and ocmpact powder, JoJo Siwa makeup sold at Claires, and bronzers, blush, and other makeup made by Beauty Plus Global City Color Cosmetics and sold in retail outlets.
The products were eventually recalled. ... The products are a tiny percentage of the thousands of personal-care products available ...
Reuters, "Recalled Baby Powder Will be Pulled, CVS Says", The New York Times, 25 October 2019 p. B2
Excerpts: ... CVS said ... it would pull all 22-ounce bottles of Johnson & Johnson baby powder from its stores and onlien to comply with Johnson & Johnson's recall because of possible asbestos contamination ... limited to one lot of baby powder produced and shipped in the United States in 2018
Hsu, Tiffany, "J&J Says Tests Don't Find Asbestos in Baby Powder", The New York Times, 30 October 2019, p. B2
Excerpts: Johnson & Johnson said ... it did not find asbestos in multiple tests of a bottle of baby powder that the [F.D.A.] said contained trace amounts of the carcinogen.
January 2020: "New Mexico Joins Wave of Talc-Related Lawsuits", The New York Times, The Digest, Health, p. b2, 2020/01/04. f
This brief article cites the attorney general of New Mexico's accusation that J&J misled consumers, especially children and black and hispanic women, about the safety of its talc products, asserting that the company concealed and failed to warn about dangers "... thought to include lung disease, ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma...". J&J responded that the company's talc product safety is supported by decades of scientific evidence.
Analysis - additional tests did not find asbestos in J&J baby powder samples
By the end of October 2019 J&J reported that both its own tests of "a bottle of baby powder" that the FDA said contained trace amounts of asbestos ["the carcinogen"] found that in fact there was no asbestos in that sample.
Johnson & Johnson's test result finding the very container of its baby powder previously asserted to contain asbestos was asbestos-free was confirmed by another forty-eight tests of samples from the recalled lot of baby powder in tests conducted by two independent laboratories.
These tests occurred after the company had recalled 33,000 bottles of baby powder that had been said to contain "trace levels" of chrysotile asbestos after one such bottle, purchased from a retail outlet, was found to contain the contaminant.
Hsu's NY Times report on 30 October 2019 explained how this happened.
Three samples did initially test positive for asbestos, but after an investigation by the lab the contaminatnio was found to be coming from a portable air conditioner in the room. - (Hsu 2019/10/30)
Opinion - trace levels of asbestos in test samples could come from an outside source
Really? Sure. Separately we have documented the use of asbestos in some air conditioning equipment including the A/C unit itself as well as ductwork. In fact, asbestos was used in air conditioing systems including air conditioner air handlers, ductwork, filters, duct vibration damperners, and as constituents in some wall and window A/C units.
In our OPINION, particularly when the level of asbestos fiber or particle detection is very sensitive it is entirely possible that contaminants from a nearby source could enter an asbestos sample being processed in a forensic lab
. Example: when a lab technician is working carefully and under the protection of a draft hood intended to keep any sample particles from escaping into the laboratory space, the very draft created by the exhaust draft fan might draw a few contaminating particles from a nearby source such as an air conditioner whose components included asbestos in a friable form such as a gasket or insulation.
July 2020: J&J Stops Selling Talc Baby Powder Only in U.S. and Canada
After decades of fighting off regulators and lawsuits regarding the asbestos content of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, the Company finally announced in May that it would “wind down” North American sales of the product.
The company has lost some major court battles in defending the product and is still facing more than 19,000 lawsuits in the U.S.
The company is not taking action to stop the sale of this product in other countries.
In the European Union, cosmetic products with talc have to include the warning ‘keep powder away from children's nose and mouth.’
...
- Source: Occupational Knowledge International Newsletter, July 2020, Occupational Knowledge International,
4444 Geary Boulevard, Suite 208, San Francisco CA 94118
USA, Tel: (415) 221-8900 Website: www.okinternational.org
Does Talc Necessarily Contain Asbestos?
Whether or not talc contains abestos depends principally on the mine from which talc was obtained. Some talc deposits also include naturally-occurring asbestos.
Maybe: or Sometimes, as a common impurity. Often not.
The U.S. FDA's own independent study of the occurrence of asbestos in talc did not detect asbestos in Johnson's Baby Powder. (US FDA information retrieved 2018/07/15 and cited below.)
Here is a screen shot of Johnson & Johnson's information about talc. [Click to enlarge any image]
At a "facts about talc" link in the company's Talc citation the company explains:
The testing methodology used to detect asbestos in cosmetic grade talcum powder was developed by the Personal Care Products, formerly known as the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA), Inc., in 1976 and is still used and accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The methodology we use for testing Johnson’s Baby Powder exceeds the CFTA industry standard. - source: The Facts on Talcum Powder Safety, web page, retrieved 2018/07/15, original source: http://www.factsabouttalc.com/
Watch out: Even if the talc powder contained no asbestos, the talc itself might be a respiratory health hazard, in part because of its very small particle size. Particles down in the micron range are inhaled very deeply into the lung and are difficult to expel.
There could be another talc hazard: according to a some scholarly studies by experts cited below, talcum powder might cause cancer in the ovaries, particularly if the powder applied to the genital area moves through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovary.
Photos above and just below show an older container of Johnson's Baby Powder containing Talc. This older J&J Talc-containing baby powder was purchased in New York before 2015 and contains talc along with the product and production codes shown below.
We have no translation of that into a product date but we note that the product label refers the user to the company's website and also provides a consumer information telephone number.
[Click to enlarge any image]
In our photo of the information label for Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder, (C) 1996, the text reads:
Johnson's® The Number One Choice of Hospitals
For baby, use after ever bath and diaper change, to make your baby's skin soft and smooth. JOHNSON's Baby Powder's natural softness helps prevent chafing. For you, use every day to feel soft, fresh, and comfortable.
DIRECTIONS: Shake powder into your hand and smooth onto skin. Store in a cool dry place.
WARNING: For external use only. Keep out of reach of children. Close tightly after use. Do not use on broken skin. Avoid contact with eyes. Keep powder away from child's face to avoid inhalation, which can cause breathing problems.
INGREDIENTS: TALC, FRAGRANCE
Recent Litigation Argues that Talc-containing Baby & Body Powders May be Carcinogenic
In July 2018 a Missouri circuit court jury trial awarded $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550. million in compensatory damages to 22 women and their families who had sued Johnson & Johnson Corporation for failing to warn them about the risk of cancer associated with the company's baby and body powder.
Mark Lanier, an attorney representing the plaintiffs said that Johnson & Johnson had spent years hiding evidence of abestos in some of its talc-based products and that such products should have a warning on the product label.
The Johnson & Johnson company expressed deep disappointment and said it planned to appeal the decision, calling it the verdict an effect of a fundamentally unfair process and expressing confidence that their products do not contain asbestos and do not cause ovarian cancer.
The company did not question the health risks associated with asbestos, but rather said that research on talc's carcinogenicity is inconclusive. - Jsu, Tiffany, "Jury Awards $4.7 Billion IN Talcum Powder Case", The New York Times, 13 July 2018, p. B6.
Really? While the conclusion that talc-containing baby and body powders has been questioned including in recent court cases, some but not all of the studies we cite below (Merritt 2008) provide important findings that suggest at the least, prudent avoidance of the use of asbestos-containing talc.
Illustrations above and below show examples of three J&J baby powder products and their label markings.
In August 2017 in the U.S. a Los Angeles jury awarded $417 million to Eva Echeverria who blamed her terminal cancer illness on Johnson's Baby Powder that she had used for decades, since the age of eleven. The case argued that J&J failed to warn consumers of the cancer risk of using its asbestos-containing baby powder. [The company's current (2017) baby powder does not contain talc - Ed.].
In October4 2017, on appeal Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maren Nelson, stating that the evidence was insufficient and that the award was excessive [in an example of of self-contradicting viewpoints? - Ed.] vacated the jury's award and granted Johnson & Johnson's request for a new trial.
Also an appeals court in Missouri vacated a $72 million award in a similar case involving Jacqueline Fox of Birmingham AL. Both women died of ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson, according to The Times (cited below) stated that while ovarian cancer is a devastating disease it is not cased by the cosmetic-grade talc used in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder for decades.
The Times also reported that "the American Cancer Society
said that more studies should be done in order to determine whether today's products are safe", and that "the National Cancer Institute said that 'the weight of evidence does not support an association between perineal talc exposure and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.'"
Size of Talc Particles - possible small non-asbestos particle hazards
Our photograph illustrates natural talc particles magnified at 100x, photographed by the author at McCrone Research in Chicago. This is the same particle magnification as shown in the page top photograph of talc particles.
What is the actual size of typical talc particles in baby powder sold in the 1990s? Talc is considered a PM10 particle.
However talc contains smaller particles down to about 1u and larger particles up to about 55u. About 80% of the particles in a talc sample will be comprised of particles from 1-20 microns, with larger particles up to about 55u making up the remaining 20%. (Cen 2007, Fig. 5).
In the photo above we have magnified those Johnson's® baby powder talc particles to about 1200x, or 1200 times the actual particle size.
As we illustrate with the two red lines, the largest particle in the photo measures approximately 15u in in its longest direction and 10u in its widest cross-section.
Take a closer look at the other particles in that photo. Clearly some of the talc fragments are much smaller, down in the 1u range. There may be still-smaller particles that are below the limits of detection in light microscopy. Use of SEM or TEM may be required to detect such ultra-small particles.
While some research on small fiberglass particles argues that these very small particles are absorbed or "dissolved" by the body and may not be a health risk, other researchers such as Baan (2007) reached the opposite conclusion.
Below is an additional photograph of talc particles from this very sample in polarized light.
Watch out: very small particles, PM 2.5 and smaller, particularly at 1u and smaller, may be un-detetected in bulk, air, or dust samples and so may go un-reported.
In my OPINION this risks a failure to detect what might be important environmental exposures for some conditions. Baan (2007) notes that there can be health hazards from inhaling very small particles of talc (or its contaminants) even for talc that is asbestos-free.
The Working Group evaluated inhaled talc not containing asbestos or asbestiform fibers as not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans, Group 3.
The Working Group noted that prolonged exposure to inhaled particles at sufficiently high concentrations in experimental animals may lead to impairment of normal clearance mechanisms in the alveolar region of the lung, resulting in a continued buildup of particles that eventually leads to excessive lung burdens accompanied by chronic alveolar inflammation.
The inflammatory response may give rise to increased generation of reactive oxygen species, cell injury, cell proliferation, fibrosis, induction of mutations, and, ultimately, cancer.
Since many of these steps also occur in workers in dusty jobs, such as coal miners, data on cancer in animals obtained under conditions of impaired lung clearance were considered relevant to humans.
In addition, impaired lung clearance in rodents exposed to ultrafine particles occurs at much lower mass concentrations than with fine particles, which adds to the human relevance. (Baan 2003)
Asbestos content in talc, Possible Health Hazards of talcum powder, baby powder
I did not detect asbestos in the Johnson's Baby Powder sample that was examined in our lab. I did see the range of particle sizes we discussed above.
Below is another polarized light photo of more talc-based baby powder showing by light variations the structural planes in this material.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Watch out: Asbestos occurs naturally in some talc deposits. Talcum powder or talc that contains asbestos is generally accepted as a respiratory hazard and as capable of causing cancer if inhaled.
Where talc is used in current consumer products like baby powder or body powder or cosmetics, one might seek assurance that those products do not contain asbestos
. In fact in the U.S. an FDA test of a number of such products did not detect asbestos in them. Citations are given later in this article and also inReferences or Citations .
Examples of Products Using Talc or Talcum Powder
Talc was often used both as an ingredient in other products and quite widely as a powder to prevent product materials from sticking together, such as surgical gloves or rubber bands.
Because asbestos occurs naturally in talc, any product or material that included talcum powder on on which talc was spread for any reason, might have been a vehicle for transport of asbestos into the local environment.
That hazard will not be present in products using modern talc substitutes such as corn starch.
Examples of just a few of a large number of uses of talc and products on which talcum powder or talc appeared include:
Soapstone is a form of talc used in carving ornamental objects
Talc in antiperspirant
Talc on automotive or bicycle tire tubes
Talc on balloons
Talc in baby powder and talc in body powder
Talc high in asbestos used as an anti-stick coating on bicycle tires has been reported to us by private email, H.H. (July 2018) who offered this anecdotal report of European tests of bicycle tire tubes found the following:
We did some test of many bicycletubes here in Europe and only hutchinson and micheling was asbestosfree.
Many of the others imported from China did contain very very much asbestos found in the talc there were so much that it was very easy to see that the talc did contain asbestos.
Also there were many metal particles. - H.H by private email 2018/08/07
NOTE: with no substantiation, no citations, no authoritative references, this is an OPINION from H.H.
We were disappointed that the reader was not willing to identify himself, even privately to be kept anonymous here, and was not able to provide a single authoritative research citation nor to describe where or for whom he performed the work he claimed.
Talc in chewing gum and candy, as a coating to prevent adhering to the wrapper
Talc in cosmetics - including face makeup, eye shadow, blush, foundation, face powder, to absorb oil; a very wide range of products, see the research studies cited below.
Talc coating on fabric-based electrical wire insulation and as a dry lubricant for pulling wire cables
Photo: a piece of mineral talc, about 10 cm long, as mined, showing talc crystals, retriefed 2018/08/17, original source: Simple English Wikipedia, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talc#/media/File:Talc.jpg
Talc-containing asbestos in crayons (CPSC 2000) and
Talc in fingerprint kits or toy fingerprint kits
Samples of four brands of children’s crayons and two kids’ crime scene fingerprint kits contained deadly asbestos fibers, according to tests commissioned by EWG Action Fund. ... The tests found asbestos in four of the 28 boxes of crayons tested, several marketed under the names of popular fantasy characters Mickey Mouse, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Two of the 21 crime scene fingerprint kits were tainted with asbestos.
According to package labels, all the crayons and toys that contained asbestos were made in China and imported to the U.S. It is unclear whether the companies whose names or trademarked characters appear on the packages are responsible for, or had any role in, the manufacturing of the products or whether they merely licensed the use of their trademarks. - Walker (2018)
Talc dry lubricant in many applications, particularly helpful where the lubricant must tolerate high temperatures
Talc in medical procedures or treatments (Jadhav 2013) such as in plurodesis in which a slurry of talc is introduced into the pleural space through a chest drain - used to prevent a recurrence of pneumothorax or pleural effusion.
Talc in olive oil, to improve clarity or to remove water
Talc in pharmaceuticals, tablet manufacturing, as a coating to prevent caking, also in extended-release formulations (Jadhav 2013)
Talc on rubber materials such as dive suits and reported [un-verified] inside of inflated or expanded rubber diaphraghms (water pressure tanks) and sports equipment (soccer balls, footballs, basketballs).
Talc in rice - used in the polishing process for white rice
Talc in roofing materials for weather resistance and to prevent product from sticking to itself in packaging
Talc sprinkled on dance floors (particularly nice for Tango practice)
Talc on rubber bands or other rubber products to prevent self-adhesion before use
Really? OPINION: Compared with the extremely-high levels of airborne asbestos to which shipyard workers were exposed in the U.S. in the 1940s, many of whom later developed mesothelioma, and compared with high levels of airborne asbestos-containing dust in some industrial and commercial environments, the airborne dust level from removing a chewing gum wrapper dusted with talc that itself might contain talc as an impurity, is in our OPINION likely to be below the limits of detection.
OPINION: When opening a candy wrapper or a piece of chewing gum or using a rubber band, consumers should not panic about airborne asbestos that may be in some talc powder used on candy wrappers nor rubber bands.
It seems more-likely that such dust is below the limits of detection except in a constructed, closed lab environment.
Research on Talc & Asbestos in Talc & the Role of Perineal Use of Talc in Ovarian Cancer
Website: https://www.cancer.org retrieved 2017/01/26, original source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html
Excerpts:
Most concerns about a possible link between talcum powder and cancer have been focused on:
Whether people who have long-term exposure to talc particles at work, such as talc miners, are at higher risk of lung cancer from breathing them in.
Whether women who apply talcum powder regularly in the genital area have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
... Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled.
Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary. Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase. Many case-control studies have found a small increase in risk.
But these types of studies can be biased because they often rely on a person’s memory of talc use many years earlier. One prospective cohort study, which would not have the same type of potential bias, has not found an increased risk. A second found a modest increase in risk of one type of ovarian cancer.
For any individual woman, if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to very be small.Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary.
Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase. Many case-control studies have found a small increase in risk. But these types of studies can be biased because they often rely on a person’s memory of talc use many years earlier.
One prospective cohort study, which would not have the same type of potential bias, has not found an increased risk. A second found a modest increase in risk of one type of ovarian cancer. For any individual woman, if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to very be small.
Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C., eds. (1995). "Talc". Handbook of Mineralogy [PDF] II (Silica, Silicates). Chantilly, VA, US: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 0962209716 retrieved 2018/07/12, original source: http://rruff.info/doclib/hom/talc.pdf
Atabey, Dr Eşref. "Environmental Exposure To Asbestos Which Causes Mesothelioma (Pleura Cancer) In Turkey." (2015) Mesothelioma and Medical Geology Practice Center and Research Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Email: esrefatabey@gmail.com Excerpts documenting high levels of asbestos in talc from locations in Turkey:
Koçarlı: In the Kızılkaya Bağları location of which height is 280 m of Kızılkaya district, amphibole asbestos is found in talc schist, chlorite schist, tremolite schist (MTA, 1975).
Dursunbey: There is asbestos mixed with talc in the Örencik Çamı location of which height is 380 m and is located in 4 km east of Hasanlar district (MTA, 1975).
Beylikova: There is an amphibole asbestos at 1000 m height in the Suludere location 250 m northeast of İkipınar neighborhood (MTA, 1975).
Amphibole asbestos occurrences in Mihallıççık region have been formed in chlorite- sericite- glaucophane- actinolite- tremolite- talc- epidote ...
Baan, Robert A. "Carcinogenic hazards from inhaled carbon black, titanium dioxide, and talc not containing asbestos or asbestiform fibers: recent evaluations by an IARC Monographs Working Group." Inhalation toxicology 19, no. sup1 (2007): 213-228.
Abstract: In February 2006, an IARC Monographs Working Group reevaluated the carcinogenic hazards to humans of carbon black, titanium dioxide, and talc, which belong to the group of poorly soluble, low-toxicity particles. The review of the relevant literature and the evaluations by the Working Group will be published in Volume 93 of the IARC Monographs series.
This article summarizes the Working Group's conclusions. Epidemiological studies among workers in carbon black production and in the rubber industry provided inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity.
The overall data from cancer studies in rodents exposed to carbon black provided sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity.
The Working Group evaluated carbon black as possibly carcinogenic to humans, Group 2B. Reviewing the epidemiological studies in the titanium dioxide production industry, the Working Group concluded that there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity. Overall, the results from rodent cancer studies with titanium dioxide were considered to provide sufficient evidence.
Titanium dioxide was evaluated as possibly carcinogenic to humans, Group 2B. Epidemiological studies on talc miners and millers provided inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity of inhaled talc not containing asbestos or asbestiform fibers. The evidence from rodent cancer studies was considered limited.
The Working Group evaluated inhaled talc not containing asbestos or asbestiform fibers as not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans, Group 3. The Working Group noted that prolonged exposure to inhaled particles at sufficiently high concentrations in experimental animals may lead to impairment of normal clearance mechanisms in the alveolar region of the lung, resulting in a continued buildup of particles that eventually leads to excessive lung burdens accompanied by chronic alveolar inflammation.
The inflammatory response may give rise to increased generation of reactive oxygen species, cell injury, cell proliferation, fibrosis, induction of mutations, and, ultimately, cancer. Since many of these steps also occur in workers in dusty jobs, such as coal miners, data on cancer in animals obtained under conditions of impaired lung clearance were considered relevant to humans. In addition, impaired lung clearance in rodents exposed to ultrafine particles occurs at much lower mass concentrations than with fine particles, which adds to the human relevance.
Caron, Christina, "Courts Reverse 2 Rulings Against Baby Powder Maker", The New York Times, 24 October 2017 p. B4.
Cen, Kefa, Hua Yang, Kunzan Qiu, Zhanghua Zhou, Ligang Zheng, and Hao Zhou. "Experimental Investigations on Performance of Collision‐block‐type Concentrator Using Fiber Optic Probe." In AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 914, no. 1, pp. 367-375. AIP, 2007.
Cook, Linda S., Mary L. Kamb, and Noel S. Weiss. "Perineal powder exposure and the risk of ovarian cancer." American journal of epidemiology 145, no. 5 (1997): 459-465. Abstract:
This case-control study evaluated the risk of epithelial ovanan cancer associated with genital exposure to vanous forms of powder application. Cases included all women aged 20–79 years in three counties of western Washington who were diagnosed with borderline or invasive ovarian cancer from 1986 through 1988; 64.3% of eligible cases were interviewed.
A sample of similarly aged women who lived in these counties, identified by random digit dialing, served as controls. The overall response among control women was 68.0%. Information on powder application and other potential risk factors was ascertained during the in-person interview.
Overall, ovarian cancer cases (n = 313) were more likely than controls (n = 422) to ever have used powder (age-adjusted relative risk (RR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.1–2.0). After adjustment for age and other methods of genital powder application (none vs. any), an elevated relative nsk of ovarian cancer was noted only for women with a history of penneal dusting (RR = 1.6, 95% Cl 1.1–2.3) or use of genital deodorant spray (RR = 1.9, 95% Cl 1.1–3.1)
These results offer support for the hypothesis, raised by prior epidemiologic studies, that powder exposure from perineal dusting contnbutes to the development of ovarian cancer, and they suggest that use of genital deodorant sprays may do so as well. Limitations of the present study include the fairly low proportion of eligible women who participated and the potential differential recall of powder usage.
Cramer, Daniel W., Rebecca F. Liberman, Linda Titus‐Ernstoff, William R. Welch, E. Robert Greenberg, John A. Baron, and Bernard L. Harlow. "Genital talc exposure and risk of ovarian cancer." International journal of cancer 81, no. 3 (1999): 351-356. Abstract:
Epidemiologic studies have suggested an increased risk for ovarian cancer associated with the use of talcum powder in genital hygiene, but the biologic credibility of the association has been questioned.
We conducted a population-based case-control study in eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire involving 563 women with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer and 523 control women selected either by random digit dialing or through lists of residents. Use of body powders was assessed through personal interview and the exposure odds ratio (OR) for the use of talc in genital hygiene was calculated.
Cases were more likely than controls (45% vs. 36%) to have used talc as a body powder in some manner, and the excess was confined to patients who used talc on the perineum directly or as a dusting powder to underwear or sanitary napkins.
Relative to women who never used body powder or used it only in non-genital areas, the OR (and 95% confidence interval) associated with genital exposure to talc was 1.60 (1.18 and 2.15) after adjustment for age, study location, parity, oral contraceptive use, body mass index and family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
Exposure prior to rather than after a first live birth appeared to be more harmful, and the association was most apparent for women with invasive serous cancers and least apparent for those with mucinous tumors.
We conclude that there is a significant association between the use of talc in genital hygiene and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer that, when viewed in perspective of published data on this association, warrants more formal public health warnings.
Cramer, Daniel W., William R. Welch, Robert E. Scully, and Carol A. Wojciechowski. "OVARIAN CANCER and TALC. A case‐control study." [PDF] Cancer 50, no. 2 (1982): 372-376. Retrieved 2018/07/18, original source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/1097-0142 2819820715 2950 3A2 3C372 3A 3AAID-CNCR2820500235 3E3.0.CO 3B2-S
Abstract Opportunities for genital exposure to talc were assessed in 215 white females with epithelial ovarian cancers and in 215 control women from the general population matched by age, race, and residence. Ninety‐two (42.8%) cases regularly used talc either as a dusting powder on the perineum or on sanitary napkins compared with 61 (28.4%) controls.
Adjusted for parity and menopausal status, this difference yielded a relative risk of 1.92 (P < 0.003) for ovarian cancer associated with these practices. women who had regularly engaged in both practices had an adjusted relative risk of 3.28 (p < 0.001) compared to women with neither exposure. this provides some support for an association between talc and ovarian cancer hypothesized because of the similarity of ovarian cancer to mesotheliomas and the chemical relation of talc to asbestos, a known cause of mesotheliomas. the authors also investigated opportunities for potential talc exposure from rubber products such as condoms or diaphragms or from pelvic surgery.
No significant differences were noted between cases and controls in these exposures, although the intensity of talc exposure from these sources was likely affected by variables not assessed in this study. rohl, arthur n., and arthur m. langer. "identification and quantitation of asbestos in talc." environmental health perspectives 9 (1974): 95.
Gamble JF, Fellner W, Dimeo MJ An epidemiologic study of a group of a talc workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 119, 741–53. (1979)
Gertig, D. M.; Hunter, D. J.; Cramer, D. W.; Colditz, G. A.; Speizer, F. E.; Willett, W. C.; Hankinson, S. E. (2 February 2000). "Prospective Study of Talc Use and Ovarian Cancer" (PDF). JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 92 (3): 249–252. doi:10.1093/jnci/92.3.249.
BACKGROUND: Perineal talc use has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer in a number of case-control studies; however, this association remains controversial because of limited supporting biologic evidence and the potential for recall bias or selection bias in case-control studies. In this study, we conducted a prospective analysis of perineal talc use and the risk of ovarian cancer.
METHODS: The Nurses' Health Study is a prospective study of 121 700 female registered nurses in the United States who were aged 30-55 years at enrollment in 1976. Talc use was ascertained in 1982 by use of a self-administered questionnaire: after exclusions, 78 630 women formed the cohort for analysis.
Three hundred seven epithelial ovarian cancers subsequently diagnosed in this cohort through June 1, 1996, were confirmed by medical record review and met inclusion criteria. Proportional hazards models by use of pooled logistic regression were used to derive relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In 1982, 40.4% (n = 31 789) of the cohort reported ever using talc, and 14.5% (n = 11 411) reported ever using talc daily. We observed no overall association with ever talc use and epithelial ovarian cancer (multivariate RR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.86-1.37) and no increase in risk of ovarian cancer with increasing frequency of use.
There was a modest elevation in risk for ever talc use and invasive serous ovarian cancer (multivariate RR = 1.40; 95% CI= 1.02-1.91). The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer for talc users was not greater among women who had never had a tubal ligation (multivariate RR = 0.97; 95% CI= 0.71-1.32).
CONCLUSION: Our results provide little support for any substantial association between perineal talc use and ovarian cancer risk overall; however, perineal talc use may modestly increase the risk of invasive serous ovarian cancer.
Gibbs AE, Pooley FD, Griffiths DM, Mitha R, Craighead JE, Ruttner JR Talc pneumoconiosis: a pathologic and mineralogic study. Hum Pathol 23, 1344–54. (1992)
Gordon, Ronald E., Sean Fitzgerald, and James Millette. "Asbestos in commercial cosmetic talcum powder as a cause of mesothelioma in women."[PDF] International journal of occupational and environmental health 20, no. 4 (2014): 318-332. Retrieved 2018/07/12, original source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164883/pdf/oeh-20-04-318.pdf Excerpt: This brand of talcum powder contained asbestos and the application of talcum powder released inhalable asbestos fibers. Lung and lymph node tissues removed at autopsy revealed pleural mesothelioma. Digestions of the tissues were found to contain anthophyllite and tremolite asbestos.
Discussion:
Through many applications of this particular brand of talcum powder, the deceased inhaled asbestos fibers, which then accumulated in her lungs and likely caused or contributed to her mesothelioma as well as other women with the same scenario.
Harlow, Bernard L., Daniel W. Cramer, Debra A. Bell, and William R. Welch. "Perineal exposure to talc and ovarian cancer risk." Obstetrics & Gynecology 80, no. 1 (1992): 19-26. Abstract:
Objective: We sought to determine whether the use of talc in genital hygiene increases the risk for epithelial ovarian cancer.
Methods: We interviewed 235 white women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer between 1984-1987 at ten Boston metropolitan area hospitals and 239 population-based controls of similar race, age, and residence.
Results: Overall, 49% of cases and 39% of controls reported exposure to talc, via direct application to the perineum or to undergarments, sanitary napkins, or diaphragms, which yielded a 1.5 odds ratio (OR) for ovarian cancer (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-2.1). Among women with perineal exposure to talc, the risk was significantly elevated in the subgroups of women who applied it:
1) directly as a body powder (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7),
2) on a daily basis (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0), and
3) for more than 10 years (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.7).
The greatest ovarian cancer risk associated with perineal talc use was observed in the subgroup of women estimated to have made more than 10,000 applications during years when they were ovulating and had an intact genital tract (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.4); however, this exposure was found in only 14% of the women with ovarian cancer.
Conclusions: These data support the concept that a lifetime pattern of perineal talc use may increase the risk for epithelial ovarian cancer but is unlikely to be the etiology for the majority of epithelial ovarian cancers.
Harlow, BL; Hartge, PA (Apr 1995). "A review of perineal talc exposure and risk of ovarian cancer". Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP. 21 (2): 254–60. doi:10.1006/rtph.1995.1039. PMID 7644715.
Henderson WJ, Joslin CA, Turnbull AC, Griffiths K (1971). "Talc and carcinoma of the ovary and cervix". J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 78 (3): 266–272. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1971.tb00267.x. PMID 5558843.
Hess, Harry Hammond. "The problem of serpentinization and the origin of certain chrysotile asbestos, talc, and soapstone deposits." Economic Geology 28, no. 7 (1933): 634-657.
Bignobn, J., J. Peto & R. Saracci (Editors), IARC, NON-OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE to MINERAL FIBRES, [PDF] International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO, World Health Organization, 150 cours Albert Thomas 69372, Lyon, Cedex 08, France, IARC Scientific Publication No. 90, (1989)
Dellarco, M., & Viet Westat, "Killer Crayons?." M. Dellarco,
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health and Human Development,
Bethesda, MD,
S.M. Viet
Westat, Rockville, MD
Hsu, Tiffany, "J&J Says Tests Don't Find Asbestos in Baby Powder", The New York Times, 30 October 2019, p. B2
Hsu, Tiffany & Roni Caryn Rabin, "Baby Powder is Recalled for Asbestos", The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2019, p. B1,3.
Industrial Minerals Association. “What is Talc.” [Web article] Industrial mineras Association of North America, retrieved 2018/07/15, original source: http://www.ima-na.org/?page=what_is_talc
Website "about" page excerpt: The Industrial Minerals Association - North America (IMA-NA) is a trade association created to advance the interests of North American companies that mine or process minerals used throughout the manufacturing and agricultural industries.
Examples of minerals represented by the IMA-NA include ball clay, bentonite, borates, calcium carbonate, feldspar, industrial sand, mica, soda ash, talc and wollastonite. The IMA-NA is open to membership of industrial minerals producers and companies that provide equipment and services to the industry.
Jablon, Robert, "Judge tosses $417 million award in Johnson & Johnson baby powder cancer case", The Chicago Tribune, 21 October 2017.
Jadhav, N., A. Paradkar, N. Salunkhe, R. Karade, and G. Mane. "Talc: A versatile pharmaceutical excipient." World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacutical Sciences 2 (2013): 4639-4660. retrieved 2018/07/18, original source:
http://www.wjpps.com/download/article/1386002938.pdf Excerpt: Impurities [in talc]
The most common impurity of the talc is tremolite, 2CaO.5MgO.8SiO2.H2O. The
occupational safety and health administration have defined this mineral as an asbestos mineral
and may/may not be present in the commercial talc.
Other impurities include chlorite,
dolomite, calcite, iron oxide, carbon quartz and MnO2.
Talc is a natural mineral, so it may
contain microorganisms therefore it should be sterilized while using in pharmaceuticals and
should be asbestos free.
Johnson & Johnson Corporation: Website: https://www.jnj.com/
Johnson & Johnson Museum: https://ourstory.jnj.com/
Kanarek, Marty S. "Mesothelioma from chrysotile asbestos: update." Annals of epidemiology 21, no. 9 (2011): 688-697. Excerpt: Chrysotile asbestos, along with all other types of asbestos, has caused mesothelioma and a world-wide ban of all asbestos is warranted to stop an epidemic of mesothelioma.
Kim, Jungwon, Chulho OAK, TaeWon JANG, MaanHong JUNG, BongKwon CHUN, Eun-Kee PARK, Ken Takahashi, " Lung Cancer Probably Related to Talc Exposure: a Case Report", Industrial Health, 51(2):228-231. (2013) http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/indhealth/51/2/51_MS1385/_article [X-Ray illustration shown just above]
Abstract: Industrial talc has been widely circulated in the world for a long time. The pure talc has little effects on humans, but inhalation of talc contaminated with asbestos can causes severe asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Herein, we represent a case of lung cancer after occupational exposure to industrial talc in the rubber manufacturing industry.
King, Hobart, Talc: The Softest Mineral. [web page] Geology.com. retrieved 2018/07/15, original source:
http://geology.com/minerals/talc.shtml Excerpt: Geology.com is ... internet ...websites for earth science news and information operated by four people.
Excerpt discussing asbestos: Talc and asbestos occur naturally and may occur in close proximity in some metamorphic rocks. Studies published in the 1960s and 1970s identified health concerns about the use of talc that contains asbestos in some cosmetic products.
According to the FDA, "These studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed, what risk factors might be involved."
To address these concerns, talc mining sites are now carefully selected and ores are carefully processed to avoid the presence of asbestos in talc destined for use in the cosmetics industry.
L.A. Times, Does baby powder cause cancer? Another jury thinks so, awarding $70 million to a California woman. LA Times (2016-10-28), retrieved 2018/07/12, original source http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-baby-powder-cancer-20161028-story.html Excerpt: ... a St. Louis jury awarded $70.1 million to Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto, who was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2012. Giannecchini, 63, told reporters Friday that before the diagnosis, she had used Johnson's Baby Power for 45 years to keep her genital area dry, as many women do. She has blamed it for her cancer and accused J&J of negligence.
Merritt, Melissa A., Adèle C. Green, Christina M. Nagle, and Penelope M. Webb. "Talcum powder, chronic pelvic inflammation and NSAIDs in relation to risk of epithelial ovarian cancer." International journal of cancer 122, no. 1 (2008): 170-176. Abstract:
Chronic inflammation has been proposed as the possible causal mechanism that explains the observed association between certain risk factors, such as the use of talcum powder (talc) in the pelvic region and epithelial ovarian cancer.
To address this issue we evaluated the potential role of chronic local ovarian inflammation in the development of the major subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer. Factors potentially linked to ovarian inflammation were examined in an Australia-wide case–control study comprising 1,576 women with invasive and low malignant potential (LMP) ovarian tumours and 1,509 population-based controls.
We confirmed a statistically significant increase in ovarian cancer risk associated with use of talc in the pelvic region (adjusted odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01–1.36) that was strongest for the serous and endometrioid subtypes although the latter was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratios 1.21, 95% CI 1.03–1.44 and 1.18, 95% CI 0.81–1.70, respectively).
Other factors potentially associated with ovarian inflammation (pelvic inflammatory disease, human papilloma virus infection and mumps) were not associated with risk but, like others, we found an increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell ovarian cancer only among women with a history of endometriosis.
Regular use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was inversely associated with risk of LMP mucinous ovarian tumours only. We conclude that on balance chronic inflammation does not play a major role in the development of ovarian cancer.
Mills, Paul K., Deborah G. Riordan, Rosemary D. Cress, and Heather A. Young. "Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California." International journal of cancer 112, no. 3 (2004): 458-464. Abstract:
Perineal talc use has been suggested as a possible risk factor for ovarian cancer based on its structural similarity to asbestos, a known human carcinogen. A population-based epidemiologic case-control study of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) was conducted in 22 counties of Central California that comprise the reporting area for 2 regional cancer registries. ...
Talc use and EOC risk was highest in women with serous invasive tumors (OR = 1.77; CI = 1.12–2.81).
This study provides some support for the hypothesis that perineal talc use is associated with an increased risk of EOC.
Langer,Arthur M., INORGANIC PARTICLES in HUMAN TISSUES and THEIR ASSOCIATION with NEOPLASTIC DISEASE [PDF], Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 9, pp. 229-233, 1974, Retrieved 2018/07/18, original source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC1475408/ pdf/envhper00499-0224.pdf Abstract: An increased gastrointestinal cancer risk is associated with occupational exposure to asbestos fiber. Examination of tissues obtained from extrapulmonary organs of exposed workmen demonstrates the presence of asbestos fibers and bodies. The amount of fiber present in these tissues is many magnitudes less than encountered in the lung tissues from the same individuals.
Ingestion of asbestos fiber in some environmental instances may approach in magnitude the amount resulting from occupational exposure. Disease factors are discussed.
Excerpt from discussion: The observation
that asbestos fiber may be present in
organs which have limited direct contact with
the outside environment, by direct ingestion and
blood or lymph routes, emphatically
demonstrates the ability of asbestos to infect
the entire human body.
Ness, Roberta B., Jeane Ann Grisso, Carrie Cottreau, Jennifer Klapper, Ron Vergona, James E. Wheeler, Mark Morgan, and James J. Schlesselman. "Factors related to inflammation of the ovarian epithelium and risk of ovarian cancer." Epidemiology 11, no. 2 (2000): 111-117. Abstract:
Previous epidemiologic observations consistently suggest that suppression of ovulation, tubal ligation, and hysterectomy reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and that perineal talc use increases the risk.
We examined these and other risk factors in the context of a new hypothesis: that inflammation may play a role in ovarian cancer risk. Ovulation entails ovarian epithelial inflammation; talc, endometriosis, cysts, and hyperthyroidism may be associated with inflammatory responses of the ovarian epithelium; gynecologic surgery may preclude irritants from reaching the ovaries via ascension from the lower genital tract.
We evaluated these risk factors in a population-based case-control study. Cases 20–69 years of age with a recent diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (767) were compared with community controls (1367). We found that a number of reproductive and contraceptive factors that suppress ovulation, including gravidity, breast feeding, and oral contraception, reduced the risk of ovarian cancer.
Environmental factors and medical conditions that increased risk included talc use, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and hyperthyroidism. Gynecologic surgery including hysterectomy and tubal ligation were protective. Tubal ligation afforded a risk reduction even 20 or more years after the surgery. The spectrum of associations provides support for the hypothesis that inflammation may mediate ovarian cancer risk.
Ness, Roberta B., and Carrie Cottreau. "Possible role of ovarian epithelial inflammation in ovarian cancer." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 91, no. 17 (1999): 1459-1467. Abstract:
Ovarian cancer is a commonly fatal disease for which prevention strategies have been limited, in part because of a lack of understanding of the underlying biology. This paper reviews the epidemiologic literature in the English language on risk factors and protective factors for ovarian cancer and proposes a novel hypothesis that a common mechanism underlying this disease is inflammation.
Previous hypotheses about the causes of ovarian cancer have attributed risk to an excess number of lifetime ovulations or to elevations in steroid hormones. Inflammation may underlie ovulatory events because an inflammatory reaction is induced during the process of ovulation.
Additional risk factors for ovarian cancer, including asbestos and talc exposure, endometriosis (i.e., ectopic implantation of uterine lining tissue), and pelvic inflammatory disease, cannot be directly linked to ovulation or to hormones but do cause local pelvic inflammation.
On the other hand, tubal ligation and hysterectomy act as protective factors, perhaps by diminishing the likelihood that the ovarian epithelium will be exposed to environmental initiators of inflammation. Inflammation entails cell damage, oxidative stress, and elevations of cytokines and prostaglandins, all of which may be mutagenic.
The possibility that inflammation is a pathophysiologic contributor to the development of ovarian cancer suggests a directed approach to future research
National Toxicology, Program (1993). "NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Talc (Non-Asbestiform) in Rats and Mice (Inhalation Studies)". National Toxicology Program technical report series. 421: 1–287. PMID 12616290.
NIOSH Worker Notification Program, US CDC, HEALTH EFFECTS of MINING & MILLING TALC [PDF] retrieved 2018/07/12, original source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/worknotify/Talc.html Excerpt: NIOSH recommends that exposure to talc containing asbestos be controlled to the lowest possible concentration. Exposure should be no higher than 0.1 fiber/cc in a 400-liter air sample (fibers more than 5 microns long) averaged over 100 minutes. We recommend that exposure to talc not containing asbestos be no higher than 2 mg/m3 averaged over 10 hours.
NIOSH, ASBESTOS FIBERS AND OTHER ELONGATE MINERAL PARTICLES: STATE OF THE SCIENCE AND ROADMAP FOR RESEARCH [PDF] U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, April 2011. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226–1998 USA, Retrieved 2018/08/07, Source: www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-159/pdfs/2011-159.pdf
Photograph shown just above: Transitional particle from upstate New York identified by the
United States Geological Survey
Excerpts: Since 1990, several persistent concerns have been raised about the revised NIOSH
recommendation. These concerns include the following: ... The revised definition of airborne asbestos fibers does not explicitly encompass
EMPs from asbestiform amphiboles that formerly had been mineralogically defined
as tremolite (e.g., winchite and richterite) or other asbestiform minerals
that are known to be (e.g., erionite and fluoro-edenite) or may be (e.g., some
forms of talc) associated with health effects similar to those caused by asbestos.
Epidemiological evidence clearly indicates a causal relationship between exposure
to fibers from the asbestos minerals and various adverse health outcomes, including
asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. However, NIOSH has viewed as inconclusive
the results from epidemiological studies of workers exposed to EMPs from
the nonasbestiform analogs of the asbestos minerals.
Populations of interest for
possible epidemiological studies include workers at talc mines in upstate New York
and workers at taconite mines in northeastern Minnesota.
Others include populations
exposed to other EMPs, such as winchite and richterite fibers (asbestiform
EMPs identified in vermiculite from a former mine near Libby, Montana), zeolites
(such as asbestiform erionite), and other minerals (such as fluoro-edenite). Future
studies should include detailed characterizations of the particles to which workers
are or have been exposed.
Paoletti L, Caiazza S, Donelli G, Pocchiari F Evaluation by electron microscopy techniques of asbestos contamination in industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical talcs. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 4, 222–35. (1984)
Public Justice, News Release: Proposed Settlement with CBS and Toy Retailers to Give Refunds for ‘CSI’ Toy Fingerprint Kits That May Contain Asbestos. July 1, 2009. Source: http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/archives/303
Rabin, Roni Caryn& Tiffany Hsu, "Baby Powder’s Possible Asbestos Link Worried Johnson & Johnson for Years -
Johnson & Johnson says its product is safe. But asbestos, a carcinogen that can exist underground near talc, was a concern inside the company for decades.", The New York Times, 14 December 2018, original source: www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/business/baby-powder-asbestos-johnson-johnson.html Excerpt:
But Aviam Elkies, who was a doctoral candidate and testified that Johnson & Johnson had funded him to work in Mr. Lewin’s lab in 1972 analyzing samples from talc mines supplying the company, said he and Mr. Lewin had detected asbestos in at least half the samples they tested.
“It appeared randomly in samples taken from the same mines,” Mr. Elkies said in an interview in Israel, where he lives. “It appeared in different concentrations. There was no pattern, no way to predict.”
Reuters, "Recalled Baby Powder Will be Pulled, CVS Says", The New York Times, 25 October 2019 p. B2
Reuters, "Special Report: J&J Knew for Decades That Asbestos Lurked in Its Baby Powder", in The New York Times, 14 December 2018, original source: www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/14/us/14reuters-johnson-johnson-cancer-special-report.html
Rohl, Arthur N. & Arthur M. Langer, "IDENTIFICATION and QUANTIFICATION of ASBESTOS in TALC " [PDF] Environmental health perspectives Vol 9, pp. 95-109, 1974, Retrieved 2018/07/18, original source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1475418/pdf/envhper00499-0104.pdf
Abstract Excerpt: The currently used analytical methods for identification, characterization and quantitation of asbestos fib er in consumer talcum productgs include polarized light microscopy, c-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electronh microscoy with selected area electron diffraction, and electron microprobe techniques.
Light microscope methods have severe limitations imposed by the ultimate size resolution of the light-optical system. Small particles go unresolved; those marginally resolved may posess optical properties different from those properties cited in the literature; most optical properties, e.g. indices of refraction are difficult to measure on small particles.
In addition to these difficulties, talc fibers often possess optical properties different from those of talc plates, which further confound analysis.
Light microscopy is recommended for use only as a preliminary tool on limited, large-sized samples. Transmission electron microscopy
Excerpt: Talc deposits include asbestos minerals such as chrysotile and amphiboles that may be carried over into consumer products. Optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses may not reveal their presence. Examples are given of electron microscopy procedures that permit detection and measurement.
Schneider A, Smith C Major brands of kids’ crayons contain asbestos, tests show. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 23, 2000. Source: www.seattleP-I.com/national/cray23.shtml
Schneider, Andrew, "Talc woes vex FDA", Times Union, Albany NY, (2 November 2014), retrieved 2018/08/07, original source: https://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Talc-woes-vex-FDA-5865578.php Excerpts:
For example, in April 2009, South Korea's Food and Drug Administration responded almost instantly after testing showed that hundreds of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products were contaminated with dangerous talc.
Immediately, tens of thousands of individual items — of more than 1,100 different products — were ordered from store shelves and banned from future sale. They included finished products that were imported from China or made in South Korea from raw Chinese talc.
The South Korean government said the imported talc had "dangerously high, completely unacceptable, levels of asbestos."
As word of the South Korean action spread to the U.S. public health community, FDA was asked whether it was sure that talc used here was asbestos-free.
The agency repeated its talc mantra that it "relies on mine operators, importers and cosmetic and consumer product makers to ensure the safety of what they sell."
Import Genius, a commercial operation which tracks shipping activity of millions of products around the world, provided data that showed that in the last 18 months more than 1,400 shipments of talc or talc products were sent into the U.S. from 34 countries. China is the largest supplier by far.
The tally included 289 million pounds of raw talc as well as hundreds of shipping containers filled with eye shadow, mascara, foundations, body powders, dry shampoos, antiperspirants and other consumer items.
"I would be particularly worried about talc-containing products that are imported, especially from China," said Castleman. "No one is checking products made abroad and exported here to chains to sell at low profits to fly-by-night outlets."
Stanton, Mearl F., Maxwell Layard, Andrew Tegeris, Eliza Miller, Margaret May, Elizabeth Morgan, and Alroy Smith. "Relation of particle dimension to carcinogenicity in amphibole asbestoses and other fibrous minerals." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 67, no. 5 (1981): 965-975.
Terry KL et al 2013. Genital Powder Use and Risk of Ovarian Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of 8,525 Cases and 9,859 Controls. Cancer Prevention Research. (6):811. August 2013. Source: http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/6/8/811.full?sid=1d7897eb-05ef-40f8-bd1c-d6f4d798a69b
U.K. Committee on Carcinogenicity, Statement on the Relative Vulnerability of Children to Asbestos Compared to Adults. United Kingdom Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Available: www.gov.uk/government/publications/relative-vulnerability-of-children-to-asbestos-compared-to-adults
U.S. FDA, TALC INGREDIENTS & ASBESTOS CONCERNS [PDF] retrieved 2018/07/12, original source: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/ingredients/ucm293184.htm
Excerpts: Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetic products and ingredients, with the exception of color additives, do not have to undergo FDA review or approval before they go on the market. Cosmetics must be properly labeled, and they must be safe for use by consumers under labeled or customary conditions of use.
Cosmetic companies have a legal responsibility for the safety and labeling of their products and ingredients, but the law does not require them to share their safety information with FDA.
Published scientific literature going back to the 1960s has suggested a possible association between the use of powders containing talc and the incidence of ovarian cancer. However, these studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed, what risk factors might be involved. Nevertheless, questions about the potential contamination of talc with asbestos have been raised since the 1970s.
To prevent contamination of talc with asbestos, it is essential to select talc mining sites carefully and take steps to purify the ore sufficiently.
Walker, Bill, & Sonya Lunder, "Tests Find Asbestos in Kids’ Crayons, Crime Scene Kits", [web article] Asbestos Nation, EWG Action Fund, 1436 U Street NW, Suite 101, Washington DC 20009 USA Tel: (202) 667-6982, retrieved 2018/08/07, original source: http://www.asbestosnation.org /facts/ tests-find-asbestos-in-kids-crayons-crime-scene-kits/
Weissberg, Dov, and Ilan Ben-Zeev. "Talc pleurodesis. Experience with 360 patients." The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 106, no. 4 (1993): 689-695.
Whittemore, Alice S., Marion L. Wu, Ralph S. Paffenbarger Jr, Dorien L. Sarles, James B. Kampert, Stella Grosser, Dexter L. Jung, Samuel Ballon, And Michael Hendrickson. "Personal and environmental characteristics related to epithelial ovarian cancer: II. Exposures to talcum powder, tobacco, alcohol, and coffee." American Journal of Epidemiology 128, no. 6 (1988): 1228-1240. Abstract:
... Vaginal exposures to talc and other particulates may play an etiologic role in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Surgical sterilization may protect against ovarian cancer by blocking entry of such particulates into the peritoneal cavity.
The authors assessed histories of talcum powder use, tubal sterilization, and hysterectomy with ovarian conservation in 188 women in the San Francisco Bay Area with epithelial ovarian cancers diagnosed in 1983–1985 and in 539 control women. To investigate the roles of blood-borne environmental exposures on ovarian cancer risk, they assessed lifetime consumption of coffee, tobacco, and alcohol in these women.
Of the 539 controls, 280 were hospitalized women without overt cancer, and 259 were chosen from the general population by random digit telephone dialing. Ninety-seven (52%) of the cancer patients habitually used talcum powder on the perineum, compared with 247 (46%) of the controls. Adjusted for parity, the relative risk (RR) = 1.40, p = 0.06.
There were no statistically significant trends with increasing frequency or duration of talc use, and patients did not differ from controls in use of talc on sanitary pads and/or contraceptive diaphragms. ...
Although risk ratios relating duration of coffee drinking to ovarian cancer were unaffected by adjustment for several characteristics, further study is needed to exclude potential confounding by other unmeasured characteristics.
MEDICAL USE of ASBESTOS is described in ASBESTOS OTHER PRODUCTS where, citing Rosato we note that asbestos was used in temporary dental fillings and in medical foot powder made with
equal weights of boro-salicylated talc dusting powder (RB)
and powdered asbestos.
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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Question: tests for talc used in matte or low-gloss paints?
I have recently discovered that talc is regularly used in matt paints, and is therefore likely to be present in many households worldwide.
Strangely, in Europe, the manufacturers seem to avoid listing talc and other substances on their safety data sheets, despite it having exposure limits.
I wondered if you have ever tested modern paint containing talc for the presence of asbestos contamination?
Many thanks, - Anonymous by private email 2021/02/17
Moderator reply:
Quite so Anon, a number of research sources include paint as one of the uses of Talc.
I have not had occasion to test paint samples for the presence of talc, inpart because there was not a claim of hazard, though I of course welcome additional research citations and data and am always open to learning something new.
A couple of talc-in-paint citations I like are found below.
Asbestos was used in paints not only for matte or low-gloss finishes, but also as a thickener. Some sources (without authoritative citations) such as mesothelioma lawsuit websites mention that kelly-Moore included asbestos in some of its paint, cement, and surface-texturing products produced in the U.S. up ti 1978.
You will see that the exposure hazards to talc, IF the particular talc product contains asbestos (not all do, it depends on where the talc was mined), occur where the talc is in a powder form easily made airborne or is applied directly to skin in sensitive genital areas (this claim is arugable or at least has been so argued);
While no one with any sense would pretend to give a safety assessment of an arbitrary building about which we have not a shred of information, in general one would expect that there is no detectable, measurable asbestos hazard from a flat finish talc-containing paint on a painted surface in good condition, such as a ceiling or wall, as those surfaces don't release measurable amounts of airborne particulates from their constituents unless damaged, sanded, or demolished.
Baan, Robert, Kurt Straif, Yann Grosse, Béatrice Secretan, Fatiha El Ghissassi, Vincent Cogliano, and WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph Working Group. Carcinogenicity of carbon black, titanium dioxide, and talc. [PDF] (2006): 295-296.
Excerpts: Talc is used in agricultural products, ceramics, cosmetics, paint and other coatings, paper,pharma ceuticals, plastics, roofing materials, rubber, and for waste treatment. Occupational
exposure to talc arises during mining, milling, and industrial use …
Asbestiform talcshould not be confused with talc thatcontains asbestos. Talc is used inagricultural products, ceramics,cosmetics, paint and other coatings,paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics,roofing materials, rubber, and forwaste treatment. Occupationalexposure to talc arises during mining,milling, and industrial use.
Consumers are exposed during the use of loosetalc-based powders—eg, baby powdersand body powders used by women onthe perineum or genital area ...and..Overall, the working groupconcluded that inhaled talc that doesnot contain asbestos or asbestiformfibres is not classifiable as to itscarcinogenicity (ie, group 3).
Kalendová, A., D. Veselý, and P. Kalenda. "Properties of paints with hematite coated muscovite and talc particles." Applied Clay Science 48, no. 4 (2010): 581-588.
OSHA, FOUR QUESTIONS ON "THIN LAYERED" ASBESTOS-CONTAINING PAINT (ACP) [PDF] U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, (25 April 1997) letter, Stephen Mallinger, Acting Director
Office of Health Compliance Assistance - to Mr. James Prarat
Assistant Director of Environmental Department
Karl R. Rohrer Associates, Inc.
3810 Ridgewood Road
Akron, Ohio 44321-1698
Excerpts - note that OSHA answerd "2" of "4" questions posed by the original requestor.
OSHA Asbestos standard does not require asbestos paint to be removed prior to interior demolition work. It is assumed that the "demolition" work you refer to is the removal of the wallboards that are covered with asbestos containing paint. The removal (demolition) of ACM that is not thermal system insulation, and therefore is a Class II operation.
OSHA does not require that non-intact ACM paint be removed from surfaces prior to those surfaces being damaged in interior demolition work.
Notes: The building itself was being demolished in this case. This does not address potential hazards from peeling, flaking paint nor from sanding painted surfaces - Ed.
Watch out: in my OPINION a more significant asbestos hazard is encountered when sanding or demolishing ceilings that have been coated with asbestos-containing textured paint and "popcorn ceiling paint" products.
Simandl, G. J., and S. Paradisl. "Carbonate-hosted talc." Selected British Columbia Mineral Deposit Profiles 3 (1999): 35-38.
Excerpt: Paint and ceramic-grade talc is sold for $US 110.00 to 200.00/tonne, depending on the degreeand method of processing. Some filler grades are sold at $US 600.00/tonne and cosmetic-grade
talc and surface treated materials may sell for more than $US 2000.00/tonne …
Reader follow-up:
Thanks for the reply and the references.
My main concern is that pretty much all houses have some kind of peeling paint, or cracks in paintwork, particularly where skirting boards meet the wall. Also, people regularly sand/fill areas of plaster and paint, unaware of the paint talc content.
I agree that in good condition, any fibre release should be minimal or non-detectable. However, I'm not sure about the level of potential asbestos contamination in industrial vs cosmetic talc.
I have read that cosmetic talc is more refined, yet safety data sheets on industrial talc also seem to say they are asbestos free, so presumably this must be filtered and sampled too.
Moderator reply: little research found on hazards of asbstos-contaminated talc used in flat or matte paints
I agree that sanding or demolishing in particular are likely to release more dust.
I have not found a reference that relates the potential asbestos hazard to level of talc refinement;
Some of the inconsistency about acknowledging talc in products derives from the problem of mining source - e.g. talc in J&J babypowder may not always come from the same mine.
And of course there's the Liticaphobia problem -
Having done a bit of lab work, I can emphasize that you don't find what you don't look for. Even the smallest change in how a microscope is adjusted or a slide is prepared, for example, pops small particles into or out of "existence".
(There may be other sources or uses of asbstos in paint such as in producing fire-retardant paint or "intumescent paints or coatings".)
When searching for research articles on the hazards of asbestos-bearing talc used in paint products, responses are dominanted by the more-widely known hazards from lead paint. But we do find mention of the frequent use of Crocidolite asbestos in paint (as well as a myriad of other products from road paving to woodstoves).
In my OPINION, friability, the ability to produce fine dust containing asbestos is what's critical.
Considering that there is asbestos in some drywall products and in some joint compound, people sanding a ceiling before re-painting would want to beware of and treat as potentially hazardous dyst from demolition or sanding of drywall in any event.
The airborne asbestos from large paint flakes is most-likely hard to even detect unless there is a demolition or aggressive treatment of ceilings and walls in progress.
Jacobs, Neva FB, Kevin M. Towle, Brent L. Finley, and Shannon H. Gaffney. "An updated evaluation of potential health hazards associated with exposures to asbestos-containing drywall accessory products." Critical reviews in toxicology 49, no. 5 (2019): 430-444.
Powell, Jon, Pradeep Jain, Ali Bigger, and Timothy G. Townsend. "Development and application of a framework to examine the occurrence of hazardous components in discarded construction and demolition debris: case study of asbestos-containing material and lead-based paint." Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste 19, no. 4 (2015): 05015001.
On 2020-07-13 - by (mod) - postal service workers exposed to talc from rubber bands?
Re-posting from private email:
[Illustration: Postal Grade bulk rubber bands from cameronpackaging. com - note that we are NOT representing that we have any information about the presence or absence of talc in this bulk postal-grade rubber band package - Ed.]
Anonymous asked:
I was wondering if you might be able to offer some advice?
I worked for several years part time as a postman and would use rubber bands on a daily basis to bundle up mail.
I recently became aware of the talc used in the manufacturing process and this has worried me due to potential asbestos contamination.
We tended to use the same bands for weeks if not longer before replacing them.
I don't recall the band's ever being dusty or any residue on my hands but I recently saw a YouTube video in an Indian rubber band factory and the talc was everywhere. The washing did not seem great either.
I'm wondering whether you think rubber bands would be significant source of asbestos exposure?
Also while looking into this it seems there are millions of women who use talc containing face powders on a daily basis, producing visible dust, yet mesothelioma in women seems very low.
Seems to be very difficult to calculate risk etc.
Moderator reply: possible asbestos exposure from handling talc-coated rubber bands?
Thank you for an interesting question. We have of course not a shred of objective data on this topic so what's left is mirror opinion. It seems to me that although there may have been Trace levels of talc on rubber bands and recurrent use it's not likely that that was producing a measurable asbestos hazard.
OPINION: The greater risk in cases such as of talc on rubber products such as rubber bands or bicycle tire tubes, is probably for industrial workers preparing and packaging those products.
Also, note that "industrial talc" is not identical to the talcum powder found in baby powder or in cosmetics.
Also note that not all talc contains asbestos. So asserting that there might have been a hazardous level of asbestos exposure from prior exposure to talcum powder or talc used on rubber products is a tricky topic to navigate.
That may explain the focus of some research examples cited in the page above and also at the following
Research on Talc & Asbestos in or on Rubber Products
Barkstrom, Elmer E., and Jr Joseph Gurskis. "Winding and talc applying apparatus." U.S. Patent 2,508,484, issued May 23, 1950. Excerpt: This invention relates-to rewindlng apparatus for applying granular materialtotacky surfaces of strips and more particularl to a portableapparatus for applying talc to rubber strip during the rewinding thereof.
Buzon, Marian E. Talc characterization: A provenance study. University of Idaho, 2016.
Fine, Lawrence J., John M. Peters, William A. Burgess, and Louis J. DI Berardinis. "Studies of Respiratory Morbidity in Rubber Workers: Part IV. Respiratory Morbidity in Talc Workers." Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal 31, no. 4 (1976): 195-200. Abstract
Pulmonary function tests, chest x-rays, and respiratory questionnaires were administered to eighty talc* workers and 189 non-exposed rubber workers from three rubber tire manufacturing plants.
The talc workers, who were exposed to talc at levels below the current threshold limit value (TLV) of 20 mppcf for nonfibrous talc, had a statistically significantly greater prevalence of productive cough and of positive criteria for chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) than did the control workers.
The talc workers with more than 10 years of exposure had significantly decreased residual FEV1.0. Multiple regression analysis of FEV1.0 in the talc workers estimated that each year of exposure to talc dust reduced the FEV1.0 by 26 ml.
Talc workers had a clear increase in respiratory morbidity, despite the absence of chest roentgenographic changes. Based on this study, a safe exposure level for talc appears to be 25 mg/m3 as a time-weighted average.
Throughout this paper, the talc referred to is industrial grade talc.
Lee, Han-woo, and Sang-Woo Shim. "Apparatus and method of producing polyurethane rubber bands." U.S. Patent 6,994,534, issued February 7, 2006. Excerpt: ... sheet, dries the release agent-coated polyurethane sheet to firstly remove the stickiness of polyurethane rubber bands, deposits talc or starch ...
On 2020-05-09 - by (mod) - Concern for asbestos in talc on an inner-tube made in Bangladesh
Re-posting from private email:
I brought a agnite inner tube on amozen .it say made Bangladesh is white powder on inner tube asbestos containing powder brought may 2020 how do I no ? - S.S. by private email 2020/05/03
Moderator reply:
You would need to collect a sample of the dust and have it analyzed by an asbestos test lab.
Do talc contain asbestos in 2020? - Anon 2020/05/04
Moderator reply:
Some talcs currently for sale might contain asbestos, depending on where the talc was mined.
See ASBESTOS in TALCUM POWDER - above now on this page
On 2018-12-18 - by (mod) - I have used baby powder since i was baby what are the chances of getting mesothelioma?
Joe,
The cancer risk for an individual who used J&J talc is not something for which I can find a single simple answer, but is a question you should discuss with your doctor. She and you know your personal risk factors besides age, such as family history of cancer, exposures to other environmental hazards etc.
The actual presence of asbestos in talc sold by J&J appears to have varied from none detected to extremely low (some researchers chose not to report it at all, claiming the level was too low to be meaningful), to possibly significant - according to conflicting research reports.
Watch out: don't let anxiety about this become its own health risk for you, and more urgently, don't let worry about a statistically unlikely (though I agree horrible) cancer illness to so distract you that you fail to attend far more-likely hazards to life and health.
If there is a risk of ovarian cancer from heavy regular and prolonged use of asbestos-containing talc that risk is likely to be small.
Statistically you're FAR more likely to die in an automobile accident or to suffer serious illness by falling down stairs, perhaps exacerbated by driving an unsafe car or using unsafe stairs missing handrailings and stair guards.
According to the ACS American Cancer Society ( https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html )
Most concerns about a possible link between talcum powder and cancer have been focused on:
Whether people who have long-term exposure to talc particles at work, such as talc miners, are at higher risk of lung cancer from breathing them in.
Whether women who apply talcum powder regularly in the genital area have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
... Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled.
Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary. Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase.
Many case-control studies have found a small increase in risk. But these types of studies can be biased because they often rely on a person’s memory of talc use many years earlier. One prospective cohort study, which would not have the same type of potential bias, has not found an increased risk. A second found a modest increase in risk of one type of ovarian cancer.
For any individual woman, if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to very be small.Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary.
Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase. Many case-control studies have found a small increase in risk. But these types of studies can be biased because they often rely on a person’s memory of talc use many years earlier. One prospective cohort study, which would not have the same type of potential bias, has not found an increased risk. A second found a modest increase in risk of one type of ovarian cancer.
For any individual woman, if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to very be small.
Recent reports updating the status of asbestos, talc litigation involving Johnson & Johnson:
Rabin, Roni Caryn& Tiffany Hsu, "Baby Powder’s Possible Asbestos Link Worried Johnson & Johnson for Years
Johnson & Johnson says its product is safe. But asbestos, a carcinogen that can exist underground near talc, was a concern inside the company for decades.", The New York Times, 14
December 2018, original source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/business/baby-powder-asbestos-johnson-johnson.html Excerpt:
But Aviam Elkies, who was a doctoral candidate and testified that Johnson & Johnson had funded him to work in Mr. Lewin’s lab in 1972 analyzing samples from talc mines supplying the company, said he and Mr. Lewin had detected asbestos in at least half the samples they tested.
“It appeared randomly in samples taken from the same mines,” Mr. Elkies said in an interview in Israel, where he lives. “It appeared in different concentrations. There was no pattern, no way to predict.”
Reuters, "Special Report: J&J Knew for Decades That Asbestos Lurked in Its Baby Powder", in The New York Times, 14 December 2018, original source: https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/14/us/14reuters-johnson-johnson-cancer-special-report.html
On 2018-12-18 by manninoj0seph@yahoo.com
I have used baby powder since i was baby what are the chances of getting mesothelioma
i used until i was 45 years old and i am really worried. I am really really worried about the recent j& j baby powder asbestos warning.please help. Thank you joe
On 2018-12-18 - by (mod) - In order for post-shower talcum powder use to have been the cause of ovarian cancer ...
Shelli
you are certainly touching on a topic which you probably knew received a lot of media attention recently including in the New York Times.
Confusing and disturbing were reports conflicting comments and statements about whether or not asbestos was present in talcum powder sold by J&J.
Some of the article quoted very disturbing reports and conflicting interests when it came to funding some of the studies.
separate from those concerns your question is one that's been touched on before.
Neither of us is the medical expert on the topic and should not trust her intuition. It's entirely possible that different body tissues respond differently to fibers are other contaminants.
What the argument you raise is similar to one that has been made by some of the manufacturers.
On 2018-12-16 by ShelliG
In order for post-shower talcum powder use to have been the cause of ovarian cancer: think about it, even with daily use, there was a small quantity of asbestos fibers in the powder, applied in small quantities, then the asbestos fibers have to travel up the reproductive tract to the ovaries and accumulate in enough quantity to cause inflammation and cellular damage over years.
Wouldn’t there also be more peritoneal, vaginal, uterine, and fallopian tube cancer occurrences?
As well as the typical inhalation resultant issues?
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