WHO Cancer Agency: Talcum powder is probably carcinogenic, it is used in powder and cosmetics

The decision is based on “limited evidence” that talcum powder can affect the development of ovarian cancer in men, on “sufficient evidence” that it is associated with the development of ovarian cancer in rats, and on “strong mechanical evidence” that there are signs of its carcinogenicity in human cells, announced WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), based in Lyon.

Talc is a natural mineral that is often used to make baby powder. Most people are exposed to talc in the form of baby powder or cosmetics, the IARC statement says.

But the greatest exposure to talc is at the moment when it is extracted, processed or used to make other products, the announcement states.

It should be remembered that talcum powder is a natural mineral consisting of magnesium, silicon, calcium and oxygen, and is characterized by a mild earthy smell. It does not dissolve in water, alcohols or oils, which gives it special characteristics and wide application in cosmetics.

The agency states in its announcement that there are numerous studies that consistently indicate increased rates of ovarian cancer in women who use or have used talcum powder on their genitals.

At the same time, the publication does not rule out the possibility that the talcum powder in some studies was contaminated with asbestos, which is a direct cause of cancer.

“As a result, the role of talcum powder in such cases could not be fully determined,” the results of the agency’s research were published in the professional journal The Lancet Oncology.

Opinion of independent experts

Kevin McConway, a statistician at Britain’s Open University, who was not involved in the research, warned that in the case of the IARC’s assessment, “the worst interpretation is actually wrong”. He said that “the Agency’s goal is to answer the question of whether a substance has the potential to cause cancer under conditions not specified or specified by the IARC”.

Considering that the conducted studies were observational, because of which they could not prove a causal link, the presented data should not be understood as something that can serve as final evidence.

The announcement came just weeks after US pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $700 million to finally settle allegations that it misled customers about the safety of the company’s talc-based products.

The company Johnson & Johnson did not admit abuse in the settlement, although it withdrew the product from the North American market in 2020.

According to a study summary published in 2020, and the studies included 250,000 women from the United States, no statistical link was established between the use of talcum powder on the genitals of women and the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

New IARC warning: Acrylonitrile is a chemical compound that is carcinogenic to humans

On Friday, IARC classified the chemical compound acrylonitrile, which is used to make polymers, as “carcinogenic to humans,” the agency’s highest warning level.

“Sufficient evidence” has been presented linking acrylonitrile to the development of lung cancer. Polymers composed of acrylonitrile are used to make various objects – from fibers in clothing to carpets, plastics and other consumer products.