Talc has been classified as probably carcinogenic by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer agency, which has also classified acrylonitrile, a compound used in the production of polymers, as carcinogenic.
Experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meeting in Lyon, France, published their results on Friday in the journal The Lancet Oncology.
Talc, a natural mineral mined in many regions of the world, is “probably carcinogenic“for humans, based on a combination of partial studies in humans (ovarian cancer) and sufficient evidence obtained from laboratory animals.
According to these experts, exposure occurs mainly in the workplace during the extraction, grinding or processing of talc, or during the manufacture of products containing it.
For the general population, exposure occurs mainly through the use of cosmetics and body powders containing talc.
However, experts do not rule out certain biases in studies that have shown an increase in the incidence of cancer.
Although the assessment focused on talc which does not contain asbestos, it could not be excluded that talc was contaminated with asbestos in most of the human studies.
In June, US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) reached a definitive settlement with 42 US state courts in a case involving talc alleged to have caused cancer.
A summary of studies published in January 2020 and based on 250,000 women in the United States found no statistical link between genital talcum powder use and ovarian cancer risk.
In the 1970s, concern arose about contamination of talc with asbestos, which is often found near the minerals used to make talc.
Subsequent studies have shown an increased risk of ovarian cancer in talc users.
The WHO agency has also classified acrylonitrile, a volatile organic compound used primarily in the production of polymers, as “carcinogenic” to humans.
This decision is based on “sufficient evidence of lung cancer” and “limited evidence“bladder cancer in humans, according to IARC.
These polymers are used in fibers for clothing, carpets, plastics for consumer products, or automotive parts.
Acrylonitrile is also present in cigarette smoke. Air pollution is another source of exposure.
Source: Gestion
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