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Talc ‘probably’ causes cancer, warns World Health Organization
Did you know that one common item most people have in their bathroom cupboard right now ‘probably’ causes cancer?
That item is talcum powder, which is made from talc, a naturally occurring mineral consisting of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. It’s commonly used in baby powder and other cosmetic products to keep the skin dry and help prevent rashes, but new research suggests it is carcinogenic.
Talc ‘probably’ causes cancer
In July 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that talc probably” causes cancer.
A summary of the cancer department’s assessment was published in The Lancet Oncology, but the full report isn’t due to be published until 2025.
“After thoroughly reviewing the available scientific literature, the Working Group of 29 international experts classified talc as probably carcinogenic to humans,” the IARC said in a press release.
This is based on a combination of limited evidence for ovarian cancer in humans and sufficient evidence for cancer in animals. Studies show a link between ovarian cancer and talcum powder use in women, while experiments in rats show an increase in malignant neoplasms in both males and females.
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor that forms in the tissues of an ovary, the female reproductive glands that make eggs and female hormones, MedlinePlus explains.
They also said there is “strong mechanistic evidence” that talc “exhibits key characteristics” of carcinogens in human cells and the mineral was given a Group 2A classification, which is the second highest level of certainty that a substance can cause cancer.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, joining heart disease, stroke, Alzheimers and diabetes.
Some talc contains asbestos
There are also concerns that some talc contains asbestos, a substance that is confirmed to cause cancer. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans, the WHO reveals, causing cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries.
Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring substances. As a result, some talc is contaminated with asbestos, the American Cancer Society explains.
In 1976, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA) insisted that all talc that is used in cosmetic products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos.
However, in 2022, Johnson & Johnson ended global sales of baby powder containing talc and switched to a corn starch formulation instead following 40,000 US lawsuits alleging that baby powder contaminated with asbestos caused ovarian cancer.
The Food and Drug Standards Agency (FDA) tested a range of talc-containing cosmetic products on the market in 2023 and found no asbestos fibers or structures in any of the samples, but many are still choosing to avoid using talc-based products entirely.
