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What is talc (talcum)?

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What is talc (talcum)?

Talc is a clay mineral similar in structure to asbestos and often mined in proximity to it. Talc is used as a thickening agent and lubricant and is an ingredient in ceramics, paint, and roofing material. It is also the main ingredient in many cosmetics. In powdered form, talc is often combined with cornstarch and sold as baby powder._x000D_

News Fact:

_x000D_Health concerns about talcum powders have prompted thousands of U.S. lawsuits by women who claimed asbestos in the powder caused their cancer. On Tuesday, June 1, 2021, The US Supreme court rejected Johnson & Johnson’s request to review a $2 billion Missouri court verdict in favor of women who claim they developed ovarian cancer from using its talc products. The company denies that its talc products cause cancer and called the verdict in the Missouri trial “at odds with decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe.” However,  a 2018 Reuters investigation claimed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that there was asbestos in its baby powder. In 2020 the company stopped selling its baby powder in the US and Canada, citing declining demand driven by “misinformation about health concerns.”

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