Talc is a naturally occurring silicate mineral mined from rock deposits in the Earth’s crust. In 2019, three companies operated talc mines in the United States, and they produced 630,000 tons of talc valued at about $24 million, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Manufacturers crush, dry and mill talc into a fine, soft, white powder called talcum powder. The powder serves as a lubricant and adds softness and shine to products. It prevents caking, absorbs moisture and makes products feel silky. This makes it a common ingredient in cosmetics, food additives and industrial products.

While talc is generally considered safe, some studies link the fine powder to health problems, and safety concerns led to a rise in talcum powder lawsuits.

People have been using talc as far back as ancient Egypt. Ancient Assyrians and Native Americans also used talc for a variety of purposes. Talcum powder has cosmetic and industrial uses.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

The cosmetic talcum powder product most recognized by consumers in Johnson’s Baby Powder. In 1893, Johnson & Johnson released Johnson’s Baby Powder after discovering it could prevent diaper rash. Then companies began marketing it to women. They said talc was good for controlling odor and moisture in the genital area.

Industrial talc uses include food processing, ceramics and paints.

Talc’s safety is a contested issue. Talcum powder manufacturers and suppliers say the powdery mineral used in cosmetic products is highly refined and safe. For example, nearly 40 years of studies by researchers and medical experts around the world support the safety of talc, according to Johnson & Johnson.

But a number of studies have linked the use of talcum powder to specific cancers, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

Although talc in makeup has not been linked to cancer, it can cause other health problems. Inhalation of face powder can also cause breathing difficulties. Makeup containing talc should never be applied to broken skin because it may cause inflammation or infection.

Some studies and lawsuits link talcum powder contaminated with asbestos to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma.

People may inhale or swallow talcum powder contaminated with asbestos fibers. It can cause inflammation and scarring. This can lead to mesothelioma.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says talc contaminated with asbestos is “carcinogenic to humans.” But the agency, which is a division of the World Health Organization, also specifies that asbestos-free talc is “not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans,” according to the agency’s June 2020 monographs on the identification of carcinogenic hazards to humans.

Scientific literature going back to the 1960s has suggested a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, but there hasn’t been a conclusive determination, according to the FDA. Women in these studies used talcum powder around the genital area.

One 2016 study by Joellen M. Schildkraut and colleagues in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found African American women who used talcum powder on their genitals had a 44 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The IARC has declared use of talc in the genital (perineal) region as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” according to the agency’s June 2020 monographs on the identification of carcinogenic hazards to humans.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has voiced concerns about baby powder for decades. The organization recommends against the use of talcum powders on babies because it can cause severe lung damage and breathing problems if inhaled.

Some studies link talcum powder use to diseases other than mesothelioma or ovarian cancer.

Health organizations and medical professionals call for additional studies of talc and its safety. Some even warn against its use.

In 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Powder after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found asbestos in a sample it tested. In May 2020, the company announced it would stop selling talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada.

The decision came after juries awarded billions of dollars to people who said talcum powder products gave them ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.

But Johnson & Johnson has said its products are safe, and it stopped selling the products because of plummeting sales. Johnson’s Baby Powder makes up only about 0.5 percent of its consumer health business.

“Decades of scientific studies by medical experts around the world support the safety of our product. We will continue to vigorously defend the product, its safety, and the unfounded allegations against it and the Company in the courtroom,” the company said in its statement.

Asbestos is a cancer-causing substance. Talc and asbestos occur naturally in the earth. In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors cosmetic products for potential safety problems. But there is no law that requires cosmetic companies to share their safety information with the FDA.

The FDA does not allow asbestos in talcum powder. But the agency cannot guarantee that talc products sold in the U.S. are asbestos free.

Because of growing concerns about contaminated talc, the agency awarded AMA Analytical Services Inc. a one-year contract to test some talc-containing cosmetic products for asbestos in 2018. In March 2019, the FDA released the preliminary results. Forty-three samples tested negative for asbestos and nine tested positive.

More results are expected in 2021.

Major manufacturers of talcum powder do not have warning labels on their products. The U.S. government has not acted to remove the powders or add warning labels. The FDA has not found enough evidence to recommend ovarian cancer warning labels on baby powder.

Johnson & Johnson’s talc supplier added warning labels in 2006. J&J has yet to add similar warnings to its products.

Johnson’s Baby Powder labels do caution against talcum powder inhalation. They also say that the powder is for external use only.

In 2017, evidence released in Eva Echeverria’s ovarian cancer trial showed other baby powder manufacturers added ovarian cancer warnings.

Brands with warnings include: Angel of Mine Baby Powder from Dollar Tree and Spring Fresh Powder sold at Walmart.

Cornstarch is the most well-known alternative to talc. Some baby powders are made with cornstarch instead of talc. The American Cancer Society said there is no evidence linking cornstarch to cancer.

As concerns about the safety of talc grow, some makeup manufacturers are also introducing lines of talc-free cosmetics.