All about the dangers of talc | PARENTS.fr
Used in particular for the hygiene of babies, talc has been the subject of various controversies in recent years, even being discouraged in infants. What are the components of talc? What dangers does it represent? We tell you everything.
Talc has long been considered a highly natural product. For a long time a star "all-purpose" product, it has been used since Antiquity: to powder baby's bottom, protect against irritation, fight against perspiration, eliminate bad smells... For several years, however, studies have revealed its dangers, and encourage us to avoid the use of talc, at least for our babies, as a precautionary principle.
What is talcum powder? What is its composition?
First of all, it is important to define what talc is in concrete terms. This is a powder that has been used for centuries for its absorbent properties. Talc powder is made of magnesium silicate, a mineral from the clay family.
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Talc has long been used for body care, especially for babies: to dry the skin, to prevent diaper rashes. It is also used in the form of bath bombs, or as an antiperspirant product. It is also a soothing product to avoid after-shave irritation on the face, armpits or private parts. You can find talc in a large number of formats: body wipes, creams, eyeshadow...
Is talc dangerous? Why is it not recommended? The case of ovarian cancer
In recent decades, talc has been at the heart of several scandals related to potential dangers. Already, in the 1970s, the Morhange talc affair had hit the headlines and aroused the anxiety of many parents. The presence of a highly toxic bactericide in this commercial talc had caused the death of 36 infants, and more than a hundred of them had been infected.
In the decades that followed, the dangers of using talc were gradually revealed by several studies. In question: talc can be naturally contaminated by the presence of asbestos, a material responsible for fatal cancers.
In the United States, talc has been implicated in particular in the development of ovarian cancer in a large number of women who used it for their intimate hygiene. In 2017, a woman was awarded millions of dollars in damages from Johnson and Johnson after contracting ovarian cancer likely linked to talc use.
In infants, the use of talc would have harmful effects on the respiratory system, due to the inhalation of talc particles. It could cause breathing difficulties and lung damage. In 2018, the Canadian Ministry of Health published a study confirming the dangerousness of talc-based products, recommending avoiding inhalation by holding talc powder away from children's faces, and checking labels carefully to see whether or not it contained asbestos. In France, there is no official recommendation for the use of talc. However, as a precautionary principle and in view of the suspected serious dangers, it is better not to use talc for the human body, of children or adults. It is better to limit its use to cleaning the house.
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Therefore, what alternatives to avoid the harmfulness of talc? Since these discoveries on the risks of cancer, new products have stood out for their absorbent qualities similar to talc. Cornstarch or tapioca have absorbent properties and are of plant origin. Baking soda is also recognized for these same virtues. All of these products are safe.
Despite the suspected dangers of talc, a small number of brands can still be found commercially. These are 100% natural and organic. On the packaging we can read the words "asbestos-free" or "keep away from the eyes, mouth and nose of children". Do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist before buying it.
Read alsoAuthor: Antoine Blanchet, JournalistArticle published on
