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) published in The Lancet Oncology. The statement comes following experts reviewed partial studies linking talc use to ovarian cancer and animal experiments that showed worrying results.
Talc, a natural mineral mined in various parts of the world, is present in many cosmetic products and body powders, thus exposing the general population to its potential harmful effects. Workers in the extraction, grinding and processing of talc, as well as those involved in the manufacture of products containing talc, are considered to be the most exposed and, therefore, at greatest risk.
A crucial aspect of this finding is the possible contamination of talc with asbestos, a known carcinogenic substance, which might aggravate the risks associated with its use.
This news might have a significant impact on the industry that uses talc, although the WHO stresses that the evidence is not yet conclusive. The controversy surrounding talc is not new, and health sectors have already pointed to it as potentially dangerous. Despite the WHO classification, many experts maintain that there is not enough evidence to say that talc is definitely carcinogenic.
Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been involved in numerous lawsuits alleging that its talc caused cancer. In June, J&J settled with 42 state courts over these allegations. However, a January 2020 study failed to establish a statistically significant connection between talc use in genital areas and the risk of ovarian cancer in 250,000 women.
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