Women Have Much To Worry About Regarding Asbestos in Their Makeup

Johnson's Baby Powder talc has grabbed the headlines as potentially containing cancer-causing asbestos, but talc and asbestos are also found in women's cosmetics

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 - If talcum powder contains asbestos a known carcinogen and is as deadly as we are being told, shouldn't we be concerned about every product that potentially contains talc? The focus of court cases began when women claimed that their ovarian cancer was due to using talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder for feminine hygiene throughout their lifetimes. More recently, the FDA found that ladies makeup products sold in popular retail outlets like Claire's contain cancer-causing asbestos. In addition to the baby powder, we use and the makeup women and young girls wear, there are many other sources of talc in products we use and take for granted every day. Talcum powder asbestos cancer attorneys representing families in the United States, offer a free consultation before filing a lawsuit claim.

For example, talc is used by several other common products for its assortment of qualities that make it unique. Talc is the smoothest mineral on earth and also can absorb moisture. Talc can also hold a fragrance making it very popular in cosmetics, underarm deodorants, and antiperspirants. Old Spice stick deodorant is one example of a brand that uses the fragrance holding properties of talc to create a best-selling deodorant antiperspirant. Besides stick deodorants and antiperspirants, talc is also used in a wide variety of women's cosmetics. According to the New York Times, "Talc is used in many cosmetics: mascara, face powder, blush, eye shadow, foundation, and even children's makeup. In the list of ingredients, it can be listed as talc, talcum or talcum powder, cosmetic talc or magnesium silicate. Talc is added to cosmetics to create a silky feel and absorb moisture." Talc can also be found in crayons and other children's toys. Most concerns over talc have centered around talc dust being inhaled but talc and asbestos can also be ingested orally or absorbed through the skin.

Maybe the most alarming aspect of the talc asbestos cancer scare is the fact that consumers assume that the US Food and Drug Administration tests and regulates companies that use talc in the production of cosmetic products but they do not. The FDA does not have testing or recall authority and can only analyze independent tests of cosmetics and give companies their recommendations as to which ones are safe and which ones are not. Cosmetics companies have for decades taken the lead from Johnson & Johnson and used ineffective methods to test for talc or have relied on the word of the source of their talc supply. Imreys Inc., the world leader in supplying talc for hundreds of products including Johnson's Baby Powder, recently filed for bankruptcy, collapsing under the avalanche of lawsuits that allege the company's talc is contaminated with asbestos when they claimed that the product was safe. The cosmetics industry is unlike regular foods or drugs in that they are "self-regulating" and not subject to government scrutiny. Johnson & Johnson is currently under criminal investigation as to whether or not they knew their talc contained asbestos and lied to the public.