Health Canada Warns: Talc Exposure May Harm Human Health

Health Canada Warns: Talc Exposure May Harm Human Health

Introduction

Health officials of Canada said that talc may be harmful to lungs when inhaling certain loose talc powder products, and it may cause ovarian cancer when using certain self-care products containing talc in the female genital area.

Environment and Climate Change Canada along with researchers from Health Canada completed a final screening assessment of talc before concluding the risks mentioned in the press release. Based on the assessment, the Government of Canada is proposing measures to help manage the risks posed by the use of talc in a limited number of product types, such as certain cosmetics, natural health products, and non-prescription drugs. The statement  highlighted that talc is not harmful for the environment.

Canadian regulators conducted the screening assessment after finding that the consumer talc products that were sold in the United States consistently found to be contaminated with carcinogens such as amphibole asbestos, including tremolite and anthophyllite with no safe levels.

The researchers issued two risk factors by stating that everyday products such as baby powder and body powder have fine particles of talc present in them, which can be harmful if inhaled. They even raised concern over the use of body powder, baby powder, diaper and rash creams, genital antiperspirants and deodorants, body wipes, and bath bombs around the female genital area.

The officials even notified that there is no evidence intimating that ingesting or using talc on top of the skin through products like pressed powder makeup poses any risk. Exposure of talc through paper, plastics, paint, ceramics, putties, and in food, as well as many cosmetics, natural health products, and non-prescription drugs also did not show any human health risks.

Side effects from talc exposure due to toxic particles of asbestos have been a major concern among the people of the United States for a decade. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Shower to Shower are two major manufacturers of baby powders in the U.S. and currently face more than tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that the companies knew about the human health risks, but still misguided the consumers for profits.

All the talcum products lawsuits are consolidated before Judge Freda Wolfson in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey under MDL No. 2738.