With the start of a new series on Radio 4, Talc Tales: How they made us doubt everything, asbestos in our makeup – investigating asbestos in talcum powder and makeup, we asked our Health Expert, Helen Lynn to give us the low down. Read on to get the whole story, with suggestions on how to avoid these harmful products.
Asbestos is a very versatile substance. Used for decades as an insulator because of its poor heat conducting properties, it is used in everything from brake linings, floor tiles, and textured paint to fire blankets and wallpaper. And we now find it turning up as a contaminant in talcum powder (talc) and products containing talc, including certain make up and cosmetics.
Asbestos in talc
Asbestos and talc are naturally occurring minerals and come from rocks through mining, itself a very dangerous, toxic and polluting industry. Because they can often be found side by side in the earth, asbestos can contaminate the talc.
Talc (hydrated magnesium silicate) dust itself can harm the lungs. Genital talc use has been linked to increased risk of ovarian cancer. It is classified as probably carcinogenic to humans.
All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. There are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos, all kinds of asbestos are carcinogenic for humans, states the World Health Organisation. Those most at risk are those who work with asbestos, whether through mining or exposure to asbestos used in buildings as insulation or when it is released through demolition or fires.
Asbestos in baby powder
For decades talc has been used in baby powder products by producers like Johnson and Johnson, one of the iconic products sold as being best for baby, best for you.
Johnson and Johnson, the world’s largest healthcare company, vowed to stop selling baby powder globally in 2023 because of the allegations of their talc being contaminated with asbestos (tremolite). The company currently faces about 38,000 lawsuits from consumers and their survivors claiming its talc products caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
Johnson and Johnson currently faces about 38,000 lawsuits from consumers and their survivors claiming its talc products caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
According to Dr. Barry Castleman, author and occupational and environmental health expert on the effects of asbestos:
“Product liability holds that the maker/seller of a product is responsible for warning consumers of non-obvious product dangers and can be financially liable for harm suffered by the un-warned product user.
Manufacturers are held to the standard of being expert on the hazards of the things they sell. Product liability holds that the maker/seller of a product is responsible for warning consumers of non-obvious product dangers and can be financially liable for harm suffered by the un-warned product user. Manufacturers are held to the standard of being expert on the hazards of the things they sell”.
Reuters found that Johnson & Johnson had known about the potential presence of asbestos in talc since the 1970’s. They now use cornstarch instead. But other baby powders sold in the UK have been found to contain asbestos. In 2022 a baby powder from South Africa was tested by the Office of Product Safety (OPSS) and found to contain asbestos.
In 2022 a baby powder from South Africa was tested by the Office of Product Safety (OPSS) and found to contain asbestos.
Talc in cosmetics
Talc is used extensively in baby power, but is used as a filler, anti-caking agent and moisture absorber in colour cosmetics like eye shadow, blushers, foundation, face powder, mascara and lipstick.
The issue is it could be contaminated with asbestos and released through usage. Women who have developed mesothelioma, a cancer specifically related to asbestos exposure are now taking cosmetics companies to court.
Cosmetics can be made with safer alternatives such as cornstarch. There is a restriction on talc usage in the EU for use near children’s noses under the age of 3.
So what can you do?
- Avoiding make-up containing talc can be difficult but not impossible. Choose wisely!
- Use less, opt for organically certified products.
- Use cornstarch instead of talcum powder if needed.
- Lobby the government to regulate cosmetics and personal care products so they don’t contain asbestos.
- Work to ensure workers and citizens who face asbestos related diseases get properly and promptly compensated.
Thank you to Dr. Barry Castleman and Laurie Kazan-Allen for the information and for all the work they do to rid the world of asbestos and asbestos related diseases.
Listen to the BBC Radio 4 program – Talc Tales: How they made us doubt everything, asbestos in our makeup, which airs at 1.45pm every day this week (5-9 August and is on BBC Sounds).
