A Review of the Talc Industry’s Influence on Federal Regulation and Scientific Standards for Asbestos in Talc

Abstract

The talc industry and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have asserted that talc has been asbestos-free since 1976 when the industry created a voluntary specification for the asbestos content of cosmetic talc. However, recent evidence reveals that cosmetic talc is not and never was asbestos-free. This narrative review examines the talc industry’s role in delaying and ultimately blocking federal regulation of cosmetic talc from the 1970s to today. We review primary source material, including corporate documents released in recent litigation and FDA documents released in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. Our results indicate that the talc industry exerted considerable influence over three key areas: regulatory proceedings at the FDA; testing methods and the manipulation of test results (including undisclosed results); and press coverage and the medical literature. The talc companies’ actions and FDA indifference have had a lasting effect on consumer health, including the regulation of talc by other government agencies.

The Definition of Asbestos - A Manufactured Defense to Avoid Regulation and Victim Compensation

“…17 In 1973, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defined asbestos as "a generic term for a number of hydrated silicates that, when crushed or processed, separate into flexible fibers made up of fibrils." 7 The FDA has never changed this definition. In 1974, Judge Miles Lord, in the first legal case concerning federal regulation of corporate pollution, defined asbestos as follows: "Asbestos is a generic term for a number of hydrated silicates that, when crushed or processed, separate into flexible fibers made up of fibrils."…”

“…6 TM&MCs have successfully blocked regulation of asbestoscontaining talc by controlling the definitions for asbestos and lobbying agencies to rescind regulation of their products. 7 The companies relied primarily on consultant geologists rather than medical experts to assert the claim that "nonasbestiform" fibers did not cause cancer. 8 However, workers had been exposed to both asbestiform and "non-asbestiform" asbestos, which were present in every bag of asbestos.…”

The Use of Calcium Phosphates in Cosmetics, State of the Art and Future Perspectives

“…Among all the powder ingredients, talc represents the most controversial ingredient. Indeed, its safety has been the topic of lots of debate over the years [273][274][275]. Recently, Fiume et al assessed that the use of talc could lead to granulomas if it is applied on the skin when the epidermal barrier is absent.…”

The disinformation playbook: how industry manipulates the science-policy process—and how to restore scientific integrity

“…FDA’s susceptibility to industry pressure, coupled with insufficient or biased company-submitted data, means that proper scrutiny of these products has been delayed. Over 19,000 lawsuits are currently pending against J&J related to harms caused by its powders, including ovarian cancer [ 9 ]. J&J took the powder off the market in North America in 2020 [ 10 ] but still affirms its safety.…”