Johnson Johnson s Baby Powder Problem: What Is Talc And Is It Safe Or Not

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Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder, the soft white stuff used by babies and adults alike, continues to be the target of legal action and speculation over its safety. The speculation is over talc, which is used in many cosmetics in the US.
Lawsuits over the talc-based baby powder's alleged link to cancer and respiratory problems are ongoing and number in the thousands, and J&J has in settlement money to people who alleged the powder caused their cancer. The talc used in the infamous bathroom staple, the claims go, has a chance of being contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen that can lead to cancer or health damage with long-term use. 

In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson discontinued sales of its talc-based powder in the US and in Canada, citing declining use in North America due to "misinformation around the safety of the product," according to a from the company. The talc-based powder continues to be sold in other countries. Baby powder made with cornstarch instead of talcum is still available in US stores. 

Johnson & Johnson maintained the safety of its original baby powder in a statement, saying "decades of independent scientific testing" has concluded that cosmetic talc used in baby powder doesn't cause cancer and is safe. The company pointed to a large cohort study published in the , which didn't find a statistically significant risk between baby powder use (including some containing talc) and ovarian cancer.

But smaller studies, and select batch tests of J&J's baby powder as well as other cosmetic products that contain talc, have hinted that talc does pose a real, if inconsistent, contamination problem. Here's what we know now about talc and its potential impact on health.

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What is talc? 
Talc is a soft mineral which can be crushed into a fine powder (talcum powder) for use in baby powder, blush, eye shadow and other cosmetics. It's been used for decades to wick away moisture from the skin or give your makeup look a less cakey finish.
What about asbestos?
Talc is associated closely with asbestos in the ground. is a name for a few different minerals that are mined for commercial applications in a range of industries. It is a known , and while not illegal in the US, its use has declined significantly since studies first began to find risks in the 1970s. 

While risk varies with exposure levels and other factors, asbestos can cause . People who work in construction or mining are more at risk for asbestos exposure. 

Past tests on talc-containing cosmetic products from different organizations, including the US Food and Drug Administration, found asbestos in of different products tested. In 2019, the FDA for asbestos contamination, including a lot of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder.

In the European Union, talc is a  because of talc's potential risk of asbestos contamination.

Most health claims and lawsuits against talc-based baby powder surround reports of ovarian cancer, presumably after using the baby powder in the genital area. Throughout the years, many people used baby powder this way or were even taught that it's hygienic, as part of a broader marketing trend that encouraged people (women especially) to be "fresh." 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists using talcum powder or empiricaltherapeutics.com other "vaginal treatments" as the products can irritate the area.

Many cosmetic products, such as eye shadow and blush, are made with talc.

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Is all talc powder contaminated with asbestos?
It's still not clear exactly how often talc-based products, like J&J's original baby powder, might be contaminated with asbestos — the million-dollar question. In 2018, the FDA began testing samples of cosmetic products that contain talc for the presence of asbestos, and those tests have led to several product recalls. In the past, batches of blush, eye shadow and baby powder have all been recalled over potential asbestos contamination.

While certain batches of cosmetics over the years were found to have been contaminated with asbestos, others were not. This highlights the possibility of a lot or batch problem during production that some cosmetic testing companies have pointed to as a potential issue, like when traces of benzene were , but not others of the same brand.

J&J's cornstarch baby powder doesn't contain talc, and it's the only J&J baby powder available for sale in the US now. Many other companies have also removed talc from their baby powder formulas, but talc powder is still available for sale from other companies since it's not illegal.
What does the research say? 
There's no research that definitively links Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder with ovarian cancer, but the medical consensus on the safety of talc when used cosmetically remains murky. According to the , it's not clear whether products that contain talc (and don't contain asbestos) could still increase the risk for cancer, as studies in both humans and lab animals have produced conflicting results. The society bases its conclusions on the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, which doesn't classify talc in general as carcinogenic, but classifies genital use of talc as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

Research linking asbestos contamination with risk of cancer is clear, however: The National Cancer Institute lists ovarian cancer as associated with asbestos.

One large study of thousands of women published in 2020 in the on the risk between baby powder use in the genital area and ovarian cancer didn't find a "statistically significant" risk. Notably, and as reported by , the study didn't differentiate between talc-based baby powder and other kinds, like the cornstarch Johnson & Johnson powder currently available in the US. 

Bottom line? Cosmetics are regulated in vague ways, and the potential for harm with a contaminated product could be there after years-long use with trace amounts in daily items, or exposure to large amounts through occupational hazards.