A recent study conducted by a leading scientist has alerted members of the public to the potential dangers of using talc which is thought to contain asbestos.
Gordon et al analysed the fibre types within 50 samples of a brand of talcum powder used by a lady who sadly developed asbestos related mesothelioma. As is often the case with mesothelioma claims, the sufferer was unable to identify any clear source of asbestos exposure when looking back at her life.
The age of the samples ranged from 50 year ago to those purchased more recently from various retailers.
Three separate laboratories in all tested the talc as part of the study for:-
- The characteristics of the asbestos fibres;
- The changes of inhaled asbestos fibres during talc application, and;
- The fibres in the sufferer’s lung tissue.
The firs laboratory studies the size, shape and formation of the fibres within the powder samples which were then contrasted to asbestos fibres, known to cause mesothelioma.
The leading author of the study, Gordon RE, Fitzgerald reviewed the formation, size and type of the asbestos fibres in the 50 talcum powder samples sold over decades. He made use of transmission electron microscopy to assess how the fibres dispersed and absorbed energy and scattered electrons. Such tests assisted in identifying the type of fibres found in the talcum powder samples.
To promote accuracy in the testing, the experts looked into 100 views on each of five grids for each of the 50 different samples of the powder and it was only fibres longer than 5 microns that were assessed as such fibres can remain in the body. Astonishingly, a human hair is 10 to 20 times on average wider than 5 microns.
Anthophyllite (a form of asbestos) was found in 80% of the samples reviewed. One of the 12 samples reviewed contained tremolite asbestos and some samples contained a mixture of two or three different types of asbestos.
Shockingly, 80% of the talc samples reviewed contained 10,000 asbestos fibre per gram of talcum powder and 6 of the samples contained a quarter of a million. It was shown that the asbestos fibres made up around 50% of the total fibres in the talcum powder samples.
The study found that the samples did contain asbestos fibres which were capable of causing mesothelioma but up until publication of Gordon’s report, it was not thought that anthophyllite asbestos could cause the incurable asbestos related condition.
The second laboratory made use of filters to highlight floating asbestos fibres during the talcum powder dusting of underarms. After application of the volunteers, the filters on their nose and mouth caught asbestos fibres in the form of tremolite and anthophyllite.
It was also shown that the lung tissue from the woman, who had developed mesothelioma after using talc regularly, contained both forms of the main type of asbestos fibres present within the talc. Importantly, the fibres were found in the same brand of talcum powder she used.
Other experts by the name of Rohl and Langer had conducted earlier research into this health hazard back in 1976 and concluded that 10 brands of talcum powder were found to contain asbestos but another 10 brands were clear of the harmful fibres.
It is thought that contamination from asbestos comes from the mining of talcum, although many manufacturers can source their talcum from different mines which do not contain asbestos.
Alarmingly, the unnamed, main brand researched in the study has continued to source its talcum from asbestos contaminated mines over a period of 40 years.
The study creates real worry of potential harm to health from a material so commonly used day-to-day, worldwide.
Reference :- Gordon RE, Fitzgerald S, Milllette J Asbestos in commercial cosmetic talcum powder as a cause of mesothelioma in woment. Int J Occup Environ Health 2014; 20 (4) : 318-332.
Rohl AN, Langer AM, Selikoff IJ et al. Consumer talcums and powders: mineral and chemical characterization. J Toxicol Environ Health 1976;2(2):255-284
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