WHO declared talc as probably carcinogenic to humans

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Ginebra.-The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified talc as “probably carcinogenic” to humans, according to a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was published in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

The same report included acrylonitrile, an organic compound used primarily in textiles and plastics, which it classified as “carcinogenic.”

Talc, a naturally occurring mineral mined in various regions of the world, has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer in partial studies in humans and sufficient evidence in laboratory animals. Exposure to talc occurs primarily in occupational settings during its extraction, grinding or processing, as well as in the manufacturing of products containing talc.

For the general population, the use of cosmetics and body powders containing talc represents the main source of exposure. However, possible contamination of talc with asbestos – a product classified as carcinogenic – cannot be ruled out in several human studies.

For this reason, experts do not rule out certain biases in studies that have shown an increase in the incidence of cancer.

In a press release, WHO reported on its assessment of talc: “After a comprehensive review of the available scientific literature, the working group of 29 international experts classified talc as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) based on a combination of limited evidence for cancer in humans (for ovarian cancer), sufficient evidence for cancer in experimental animals, and strong mechanistic evidence that talc exhibits key characteristics of a carcinogen in human primary cells and experimental systems.”

He went on to explain that “Group 2A classification is the second highest level of certainty that a substance may cause cancer.”

The experts noted that “there were numerous studies that consistently showed an increased incidence of ovarian cancer in humans reporting the use of body powders in the perineal region. Although the assessment focused on talc containing no asbestos, contamination of talc with asbestos might not be excluded in most studies of exposed humans.”

The report also mentions that in June, the American pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) reached an agreement with the courts of 42 states in the United States in a case related to talc, accused of causing cancers. Despite this, a summary of studies published in January 2020, based on 250,000 women in the United States, did not find a statistical link between the use of talc on the genital areas and the risk of ovarian cancer.

In the 1970s, concern arose over contamination of talc with asbestos, a mineral often found near talc sources. Subsequent studies indicated an increased risk of ovarian cancer in talc users.

The WHO warned that “ovarian cancer was also observed in studies looking at occupational exposure of women exposed to talc in the pulp and paper industry. However, confounding by co-exposure to asbestos cannot be excluded. The increased rate was based on a small number of ovarian cancers in these occupational studies.”

As for acrylonitrile, IARC has classified it as “carcinogenic” to humans in Group 1 based on “sufficient evidence of lung cancer” and “limited evidence” of bladder cancer in humans. This volatile organic compound is mainly used in the production of polymers used in clothing fibers, carpets, plastics for consumer products and car parts. In addition, acrylonitrile is present in cigarette smoke and air pollution is another source of exposure.

Exposure to the element can occur in workers who produce and use it in polymer production, WHO said, adding that “the general population is exposed to acrylonitrile mainly through inhalation of cigarette smoke (including second-hand smoke). Another source of exposure is air pollution.”

The evidence the experts considered “came primarily from studies of workers who produced or used acrylonitrile.” In addition, in this case “there was sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals.”

Classification in Group 1, he said, indicates “the highest level of certainty that a substance may cause cancer.”

The strongest evidence for placing her in that group “came from a large cohort study of workers in different industries that produce or use acrylonitrile. In this study, workers with higher exposure to acrylonitrile had a higher rate of lung cancer mortality compared with workers with lower exposure.”

The experts who made the publication pointed out that “there have been numerous studies that have consistently shown an increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer in humans.”

The experts who made the publication pointed out that “there have been numerous studies that have consistently shown an increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer in humans.”

Regarding bladder cancer, it added that “the increased rate was seen in only some of the analyses in the large study, and the body of evidence was less consistent,” the WHO said in the statement, while “there was sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals. Acrylonitrile caused an increase in the incidence of malignant neoplasms in both sexes of two species in multiple studies.”Infobae.