Talcum powder and carcinoma

Executives at Johnson & Johnson repeatedly discussed their worries about the potential health effects of asbestos (石棉) contamination of their talcum Baby Powder even as they told regulators and the public that all their tests were finding none, investigations by Reuters and the New York Times show.

Reuters reported on 14 December that it had examined thousands of pages of company memos and other internal documents provided to plaintiffs’ (原告) lawyers in ongoing talcum powder litigation (訴訟). Many of the documents have not yet been used in court or were designated (定為) confidential by court order, it said.

Dyer, O. (2018). Johnson & Johnson knew for decades talcum powder contained asbestos, reports allege. The BMJ, 363. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k5430

Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. 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.

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.

It is not clear if consumer products containing talcum powder increase cancer risk. Studies of personal use of talcum powder have had mixed results, although there is some suggestion of a possible increase in ovarian cancer risk. There is very little evidence at this time that any other forms of cancer are linked with consumer use of talcum powder.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html