Fibrous and Mineral Content of Cosmetic Talcum Products

Cralley, Lewis J.; Key, Marcus M.; Groth, David H.; Lainhart, William S.; Ligo, R. M.

doi:10.1080/00028896809343015

Cited by 55 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Modest excesses in our data do not add substantially to the available evidence. Talc, which represents the most consistent finding among chemical agents increasing risk of ovarian cancer, may have been contaminated by asbestos [Cralley et al, 1968;Rohl et al, 1976]. Excesses that we found for leather dust and engine exhausts are novel findings, with a possible exception of Williams et al [1977], who found a slight excess for women in railroads and railroad express service in the US Third National Cancer Survey data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

Ovarian cancer and occupational exposures in Finland

et al. 1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

Ovarian cancer and occupational exposures in Finland

et al. 1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In 1968, a study (Cralley et al, 1968) of 22 cosmetic talcum products demonstrated fiber contents ranging from 8 to 30% by count with an average of 19%. The fibrous material was predominately talc but probably contained minor amounts of tremolite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as these are often present in fibrous talc mineral deposits.…”

Section: Industrial and Cosmetic Grade Talcsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Consumer talcums and powders: Mineral and chemical characterization

Rohl

Langer

Selikoff

et al. 1976

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…The talc particles in cosmetic grade talc are the flat, plate-like variety which are selected for their lubricity. Cralley et al (1968) reported an average of 19 % incidence of fibres in 22 cosmetic talc samples studied, but detailed analysis of such talcs shows their fibre content to be of a lower order, as the reported high incidence of fibre in platy talcs relates to the fibrous appearance of a broken plate or a talc platelet seen on edge when examined under a microscope.…”

Section: Mineralogymentioning

confidence: 99%

The biology of talc.

Hildick‐Smith¹

1976

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-229. The biology of talc. Data are presented on the effects on health of talc dusts from exposure in industry and use of talc-containing health products. The mineralogy of talc and the composition of cosmetic and industrial grade talc dusts are described. Studies in animals are reviewed, and epidemiological data are considered in relation to exposures that occur during industrial and consumer uses of talc dusts. Hamsters exposed to 8 mg/m3 of respirable cosmetic grade talc dust for up to 150 minutes a day for 300 consecutive days showed no difference in incidence or nature of pathological lesions from those observed in a group of untreated animals. A retrospective study of the causes of death of 227 talc mine millers exposed to cosmetic grade talc at the threshold limit value for talc (20 million parts per cubic foot) for an average of 15 8 years showed that the causes of death were no different from those in a control cohort not exposed to talc dust. The available data indicate that talc dust exposure in the modern mining of cosmetic grade talc does not appear to be injurious to health. The significantly lower dust exposure in the normal use of cosmetic grade talc dusts in talc-containing health and cosmetic products confirms that their use is not a hazard to health.Increasing interest in the impact of environmental influences on health has in recent years focused attention on the significance of pollutants and prompted a reappraisal of environmental mineral dusts that have had extensive long-term use, but on which there is a paucity of correlated scientific data by which to

show abstract

Fibrous and Mineral Content of Cosmetic Talcum Products

Cited by 55 publications

References 7 publications

Ovarian cancer and occupational exposures in Finland

Ovarian cancer and occupational exposures in Finland

Consumer talcums and powders: Mineral and chemical characterization

The biology of talc.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About