The harm of talcum powder to human body

Talcum powder has a wide range of uses in our lives. In addition to being used as a medicine, talcum powder is also used in industrial production, ceramic production, and cosmetics production. It is because we have more opportunities to come into contact with talcum powder in our daily lives, and many people are worried that this substance may cause harm to our health. So, what are the harms of talcum powder to the human body? Let’s take a look below.

This product is a magnesium silicate mineral talc family talc, the main component of which is hydrated magnesium silicate. It is made by crushing, treating with hydrochloric acid, washing with water, and drying.

On October 27, 2017, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer published a preliminary list of carcinogens for reference, and talc containing asbestos or asbestos-like fibers was included in the list of Category 3 carcinogens.

The main component of talc is talc-containing hydrated magnesium silicate, with the molecular formula being Mg3[Si4O10](OH)2. Talc belongs to the monoclinic crystal system. Crystals are occasionally in the form of pseudohexagonal or rhombic plates. It usually occurs in dense block, leaf, radial or fibrous aggregates. It is colorless, transparent or white, but due to a small amount of impurities it appears light green, light yellow, light brown or even light red; the cleavage surface has a pearly luster. Hardness 1, specific gravity 2.7~2.8.

Talc is toxic. Talc particles can cause ovarian and lung tumors in humans. Many studies have linked regular use of talcum powder in the female genital area to ovarian cancer. The talc particles are able to migrate into the reproductive system and implant themselves in the lining of the ovaries. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and discovered that women with ovarian cancer use talc in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.

When talc comes into contact with the lungs, it poses a health risk. Talc miners have shown elevated rates of lung cancer and other respiratory problems due to their frequent exposure to industrial-grade talc that contains silica and asbestos. A common household hazard caused by talc is inhalation of baby powder by infants and young children. Since the early 1980s, records show that thousands of babies die or become seriously ill each year from accidental inhalation of talcum powder.

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