What does talc free mean

To read more about the safety of talcum powder, please visit factsabouttalc. Learn more. A Recent Ruling from a California Court. This Wall Street Journal editorial helps explain why a judge recently tossed out a jury award in Los Angeles. However, decades of research have established a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, beginning with a study from the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology BJOG.

You can typically find a talc mine near asbestos pockets in the Earth. Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that is a known carcinogen, which is a cancer-causing agent. The close proximity of these minerals to each other has led to the presence of asbestos in talcum powder. While most people focus on mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, inhaling talcum powder can cause a baby to develop life-threatening respiratory issues, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Women and their families brought lawsuits based on their diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and men and women both brought lawsuits based on their diagnosis of mesothelioma. The scientific community has differing opinions regarding whether there is an increased risk of cancer due to talc-based products.

However, juries have strongly sided in the majority of cases with the victims and awarded them billions of dollars for their injuries related to the use of talc products. There is no research proving whether talc-free powder is safe or dangerous to use. However, the most significant benefit of using talc-free powders is that you can be sure the product you are using does not contain asbestos. If you are considering using a talc-free powder on yourself or your child, we recommend speaking with a doctor or pediatrician.

As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as baby powder and adult body and facial powders, as well as in a number of other consumer products. In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled see Asbestos.

In , the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association CTFA , which is the trade association representing the cosmetic and personal care products industry, issued voluntary guidelines stating that all talc used in cosmetic products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos according to their standards. When talking about whether or not talcum powder is linked to cancer, it is important to distinguish between talc that contains asbestos and talc that is asbestos-free.

Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear. Researchers use 2 main types of studies to try to figure out if a substance or exposure causes cancer. Lab studies: In studies done in the lab, animals are exposed to a substance often in very large doses to see if it causes tumors or other health problems.

Researchers might also expose normal cells in a lab dish to the substance to see if it causes the types of changes that are seen in cancer cells. When these products are contaminated with asbestos, they pose an inhalation risk that could lead to lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Asbestos in makeup does not cause any immediate side effects because the health consequences of asbestos exposure take decades to develop. The latency period associated with mesothelioma is between 20 and 50 years after a person is first exposed to asbestos. Consumers must look at the product label to see if it contains talc and avoid it if it does. Certain cosmetic products and brands make talc-free makeup and cosmetics.

Online resources are available to find these brands and products. For example, you can use the websites Skin Deep and Made Safe to find talc-free cosmetics. Some scientific research indicates talc may increase the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in women and lung cancer among miners. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against the use of baby powder, which is predominately made of talc, because infants can easily breathe in the powder.

Parents can protect their children from asbestos in makeup by buying only cosmetics free of talc. The EPA tried to ban asbestos in , but pro-asbestos lobbying groups fought hard to successfully overturn the ban in The George H. Bush administration refused to allow the EPA to appeal. As a result, numerous products on the market contain asbestos, especially building materials such as roofing and flooring supplies.

Asbestos in makeup falls in a grey area of the law. This is hard to prove given the long latency period associated with asbestos-related diseases. Check for updates from The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.

The only way to know if the makeup or cosmetics you own contain asbestos is to have each product tested. Fitzgerald, of the Scientific Analytical Institute, stresses the importance of using the most advanced testing available to find asbestos in makeup.

He uses a transmission electron microscope TEM to detect asbestos. Asbestos is regulated at federal, state and local levels. Talc is not regulated by any government agency. The cosmetic industry regulates its own use of talc and claims that it attempts to source asbestos-free talc.

It has failed to prevent asbestos from entering consumer products, which is why the U. Food and Drug Administration conducted a review that began in