One of the possible reasons for the rapid spread of unconfirmed information about talc safety is the association of talc with asbestos, which has a proven carcinogenic effect. Both substances have the same chemical name – hydrated magnesium silicate. However, the crystal structure and therefore the chemical and toxicological properties of both substances are completely different. Talc crystals have the form of thin, flat plates. Asbestos has a structure of thin fibers that act like needles when in contact with living tissue. The carcinogenic effect of asbestos is closely related to the shape of the particles of this material.
The Talc deposits are located in close proximity to asbestos, so contamination of this mineral by asbestos is possible. There are many types of talc classified by the degree of purity. At the top of the cleanliness scale is the cosmetic talc, which meets the highest quality and safety standards. The cosmetic talc is produced by grinding talc extracted in mines, that have been specially selected because of their high quality and purity of deposits.
It is used in many different products, in food (e.g. chewing gum) and cosmetics. Talc easily absorbs moisture (e.g. sweat) and fatty substances (e.g. sebum). It leaves the skin feeling dry, fresh, smooth and soft.
It is also used in widely distributed medicines and dietary supplements, where it acts as an anti-caking agent and consistency-forming substance.
What do international organizations say about talc and what actions are they taking?
The US Food and Drug Administration – FDA – has granted talc GRAS status for the use in food as an anti-caking agent. The FDA has also approved the use of talc in cosmetics and drugs as a dye. In 1994, the FDA, in conjunction with the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (ISRTP) and the US Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) (now: Personal Care Products Council – PCPC), held a workshop to review all available data about the talc safety. No risk to human health has been found under the normal use of cosmetic talcum powder. In 2014, at the request of the US Cancer Prevention Coalition, the FDA re-reviewed the safety of talc and upheld its previous conclusions – talc is safe.
Similarly, CIR – The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, confirmed the safety of talc. In 2015, the CIR published a detailed assessment of the talc safety in cosmetics (Fiume MM et al (2015) Safety Assessment of Talc as used in cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology 34 (supp1) 66S-129S). CIR stipulates that talc should not be used on skin with a removed epidermal barrier or on skin with burns higher than the first degree.
In 2004, The National Toxicology Program (NTP) in the USA in 2004 analyzed the available human epidemiological data, including consumer use of talc and the occupational exposure to this ingredient. In 2005, the NTP decided to postpone the consideration of talc as a carcinogenic ingredient due to the insufficient reliable data. Due to the numerous uncertainties in the descriptions related to the mineral structure of talc and the effects of exposure, it is not possible to present final conclusions regarding the recognition talc as a carcinogenic ingredient.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also conducted a detailed data analysis of talc safety. IARC considered whether the carcinogenicity data were sufficient to propose talc classification as a carcinogen. The classification proposed by IARC is 2B, it means a substance with a possible (but unconfirmed) carcinogenic effect in humans.
Since 2010 in USA, several publications have appeared about the possible relationship between the use of talcum powder and the risk of reproductive cancer in women. Importantly, the authors themselves did not clearly demonstrate such a relationship, and the credibility of the research was questioned, but the publications caused a wave of concerns and alarming reports.
In 2014, the results of study on a group of 61576 postmenopausal women were published – over half of whom had used talc products for many years. No connection was found between the use of powders in intimate areas and the occurrence of ovarian cancer, even in the case of long-term use.
The causal relationship between the use of talc and the occurrence of ovarian cancer has been denied, among others by Cancer Research UK (the world’s leading charity, supporting cancer research) and Ovarcome (the UK’s ovarian cancer charity).
The possible carcinogenic talc effects are constantly monitored by the risk assessment institutions – IARC and CIR.
Today, talc products continue to test positive for asbestos fibers. In 2020, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) completed independent testing of talc cosmetics. The results showed 15% of the talc cosmetics sampled contained asbestos fibers. This puts workers and consumers at risk for asbestos exposure and related diseases.
The FDA has continued its testing for asbestos contamination in talc-containing cosmetic products. The products were selected based on various factors including, type of talc-containing cosmetic product, price range, popular products on social media and in advertisements, products marketed to children, and products marketed to women of color and, if any, third party reports of potential asbestos contamination. Testing of samples was conducted by AMA Analytical Services, Inc. (AMA) on behalf of the FDA. Samples were analyzed using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
The summary table, “FDA Summary of Results from Testing of Official Samples of Talc-Containing Cosmetics for Asbestiform Fibers completed by AMA Laboratories in 2023” provides details for each of the talc-containing cosmetic products that were analyzed in this survey, including product distributor/manufacturer, brand, product name, batch/lot, FDA Sample ID, and the findings from the testing.
The FDA ware expected to issue their standardized testing method proposal by 29th December 2023 with the final regulation due to be published by June 2024, so we are on the eve of information on this subject.
What does current European legislation say about talc?
Talc is safe for use in cosmetic products. Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetic products: Talc is included in the list of substances that may be contained in cosmetic products only subject to certain restrictions (Annex III, item 59). If an ingredient is included in baby powders for children under 3 years of age, a warning should be placed on the cosmetic packaging – “Protect against getting into the child’s mouth and nose.”
On 9th January 2023, the Netherlands submitted to ECHA a proposal for a harmonized classification (CLH) for Talc. According to their studies, Talc would be classified as Carcinogenic Category 2 (Carc. 2, H351) and Toxic for certain target organs Category 1 (STOT RE 1, H372).
We are waiting for decisions on the final fate of talc in European legislation.
References:
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/talc
https://hempking.eu/pl/talk-w-kosmetykach-i-zywnosci-czy-to-bezpieczne/
https://www.kosmopedia.org/bezpieczenstwo/czarna-lista-skladnikow-kosmetycznych/talk/
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