Consumer talcums and powders: Mineral and chemical characterization

Abstract

Representative consumer talcums and powders, including 20 body powders, baby powders, facial talcums, and also one pharmaceutical talc, were analyzed to determine their mineralogical and chemical composition. Where known, all were formulated prior to 1973. Of the 20 products 10 contained detectable amounts of tremolite and anthophyllite, principally asbestiform, while some also contained fragmented forms of these minerals. The amounts ranged from tenths of a percent to over 14% by weight; two contained detectable amounts of chrysotile asbestos fiber. Eight contained quartz, seven ranging from 2 to 5%, with one as high as 35%. The analyses showed that the consumer products examined were rarely the pure mineral talc, but rather were mixtures of various minerals; some samples consisted of three to five minerals, only one of which was talc. Other common mineral phases included chlorite, platy serpentine, pyrophyllitem mica, and carbonate minerals. Kaolin additive was identified in two products. The single pharmaceutical talc examined contained only a trace amount of quartz. The chemical composition of these products, including both major oxide and trace element content, correlated with their mineral components. Four samples contained substantial concentrations of nickel, cobalt, and chromium, suggesting latice substitution or the presence of trace mineral phases. Geological provenance of the talcs may be ascertained on the basis of chemistry. Possible adverse health effects from intermittent use of these products, especially those that contain asbestiform and fragmented anthophyllite and tremolite, chrysotile, quartz, and trace metals, are presently unknown and warrnat evaluation.

Perineal talc exposure and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Central Valley of California

“…1 In 1976, talcum powder manufacturers instituted voluntary guidelines to prevent asbestos contamination in talc products, 24 but we did not find an increase in EOC risk with talc use on or before 1975; rather, we found that risk of EOC increased with use after 1975, which may be related to the recency of use. Harlow et al 24 observed ovarian cancer risk was increased in women using talc products before 1960, although Chang and Risch 22 found no relationship between risk and use either before or after 1970.…”

“…1 In animal studies, talc and other similar substances have been demonstrated to migrate from the vagina through the peritoneal cavity to the ovaries. 2 Henderson et al 3 also observed that particles with the appearance of talc were more prevalent in ovarian tumors than in normal ovarian tissue.…”

Origin and development of flexibility in asbestiform fibres

“…The tremolite standard is from South Korea (Rohl et al, 1976). Scanning electron microscope energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS) was used to obtain chemical analyses of amphibole samples, and identification was made on the basis of these data using the standard nomenclature (Leake, 1978) together with X-ray diffraction and optical data.…”

Occupational exposure to talc containing asbestos: morbidity, mortality, and environmental studies of miners and millers.

“…In 1975, ore was being mined from approximately 6 of the 26 active stopes. Mining follows a typical cycle including: (1) blasting, which is done with gelatin dynamite and ammonium nitrate; (2) dissipation of dusts and gases; (3) removal of ore with some secondary blasting; and (4) drilling of blasting holes for the next shift.…”

“…The term "talc" in the mineralogical sense denotes a specific rockforming mineral of the sheet silicate category; however, when "talc" is referenced in the industrial or commercial setting, it may represent a varied mixture of minerals with physical properties similar to the mineral talc (1). Minerals commonly found associated with talc include calcite, quartz, diopside, magnesite, serpentines (chrysotile, antigorite, and lizardite), and fibrous and nonfibrous amphiboles (tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite) (1,2).…”