FDA is reviewing talc and talc-containing cosmetic products on the U.S. market for asbestos contamination following reports of the carcinogen in cosmetics overseas, according to an FDA spokesman.

FDA has not received any reports of adverse events associated with talc, he said.

The rep noted that asbestos can be found in talc if a mining site "is not carefully selected" or if talc ore "is not sufficiently purified."

Talc is used in makeup, deodorants and baby and body powders as an absorbent and anti-caking agent and to improve product texture.

FDA's talc survey, which will continue through 2010, will focus solely on asbestos contamination. The agency considers non-asbestiform talc Generally Recognized As Safe for use in food. It also lists it as a color additive and component of colors that may be used in coloring drug and cosmetic products.

No date has been announced for the survey's completion or the publication of results.

According to the Personal Care Products Council's CosmeticsInfo.org, cosmetic-grade talc does not contain asbestos, and talc producers have "purity specifications" to ensure that residual asbestos does not appear in talc.

Nevertheless, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has listed talc among 17 ingredients of high priority for review in 2010.

Reviewing talc "is going to be a massive project," as talc is widely used in personal-care products and there are a lot of data available on the ingredient, CIR Director Alan Andersen told "The Rose Sheet" March 11.

Talc has been on CIR's priority lists before, but it has never been reviewed (¹ Also see "CIR Panel Discusses Revised Ingredient Review Process" - HBW Insight, 11 June, 2007.). Andersen acknowledged that "it's an important one to do."

Talc is not on the agenda for the panel's first meeting of the year, slated for April 5-6.

Talc in personal-care products has come under scrutiny before, mostly due to studies in the mid-1990s on the correlation between talc inhalation and carcinogenicity and linking perineal use of talc to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The National Toxicology Program published a study in 1993 finding "clear evidence" of talc carcinogenic activity in the lungs of female rats.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (the precursor to the Personal Care Products Council) questioned the study's results and methods, suggesting they were unreliable (² Also see "CTFA questions scientific basis of CPC's requested talc ovarian cancer label warning." - HBW Insight, 26 June, 1995.).

Activist organizations have pressured FDA to warn consumers about suspected risks associated with cosmetic talc.

In 2004, FDA denied a petition from the Environmental Working Group asking the agency to investigate the safety of talc and eight other ingredients (³ Also see "EWG Petition Denied By FDA; Group Seeks Dialogue With CTFA" - HBW Insight, 17 October, 2005.).

The Cancer Prevention Coalition submitted a petition to FDA in 2008, requesting that a warning be placed on cosmetic talc products and a hearing be held to show evidence of genital talc application and increased ovarian cancer risks, reiterating a 1994 citizen petition denied by FDA (⁴ 'The Rose Sheet' May 26, 2008, In Brief).

The National Toxicology Program proposed listing cosmetic talc as a carcinogen in the 10 and 12 editions of its "Report on Carcinogens," but withdrew it from consideration twice due to insufficient data (⁵ 'The Rose Sheet' Oct. 24, 2005, In Brief).

- Lauren Nardella ( ⁶ l.nardella@elsevier.com )

FDA Surveying U.S. Cosmetic Products For Asbestos-Contaminated Talc

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