Malignant mesothelioma following exposure to cosmetic talc: Association, not causation

Occupational exposure to cosmetic talc and mesothelioma in barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists: A systematic review of the epidemiology

“…Nevertheless, we acknowledge for the readership that several case-series have been published in the peer-reviewed literature where mesotheliomas have been observed among barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists (and even a family member who swept a barbershop) and, in turn, the authors have implied or hypothesized that cosmetic talc exposure played a role in the etiology of their disease (Emory et al, 2020; Moline et al, 2020, 2023). The underlying data and analytical methodology of these case-series and the associated conclusions have been challenged in several published commentaries (Brent 2023; Geyer 2020a, 2020b).…”

“…Furthermore, Gordon et al (2014) and Steffen et al (2020) have reported that short-term airborne asbestos concentrations generated during the application of cosmetic talcum powder can range from approximately 2 to 13 f/cc (i.e., similar to what was historically reported for insulators). However, the analytical methods and results of these analyses have been questioned extensively (Holton et al, 2022; Lee and Van Orden, 2015; Geyer, 2020a, 2020b). Indeed, others have reported that cosmetic talc deposits are free of asbestiform minerals (Berg, 1997; Gamble et al, 1982; Harben and Kuzvart, 1996; IARC, 2010; Lightfoot et al, 1972; Pooley, unknown; Rubino et al, 1976; Wild et al, 2008; Wylie, 1990), and that even if cosmetic talcum powders contained asbestiform minerals, exposure associated with their application would have been consistent with breathing ambient air (Anderson et al, 2016; Burns et al, 2019; Holton et al, 2022; Miller et al, 2022; Moon et al, 2011; Pierce et al, 2017).…”