Analysis of an Authentic Historical Italian Cosmetic Talc Sample – Further Evidence for the Lack of Cancer Risk

Abstract

Italian talc from the Pinerolo Mines in North West Italy is known for its extreme purity. Several historical investigations of these mines have demonstrated very small amounts of tremolite in the host rock that occasionally found their way into the mined ore. However, more than sixty years of epidemiological studies of the Pinerolo miners and millers have failed to demonstrate any attendant cancer risk and show that this trace tremolite contamination is of no biological significance.Claims made that the Pinerolo Italian cosmetic talc produced prior to 1975 were contaminated with asbestos, principally tremolite, have been difficult to refute given the lack of authentic historical samples of commercial products. We now describe the analytical findings of a recently discovered authentic historical sample.Sample analyses of this material showed only a few non-asbestiform tremolite fibres -a finding discussed in the light of the historical (pre-1975) studies of this talc deposit: no serpentine (chrysotile) or amphibole fibres were detected.The numerical concentration of tremolite fibres in the talc sample was 3.687 x 10 6 fibres/gram, corresponding to a mass concentration of 0.722 parts per million.

Asbestos in Talc and Mesothelioma: Review of the Causality Using Epidemiology

“…In the laboratory, talc has been shown to be contaminated with chrysotile, tremolite, and anthophyllite fibers. [34][35][36][37] Chrysotile, tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos have been shown to cause mesothelioma. 7…”

Authors’ response to the letter to the editor on “characterization of asbestos exposures associated with the use of facial makeups”

“…Moreover, the letter points to the results of Ilgren et al (2017) that showed 3.7 million tremolite fibers/gram of Italian cosmetic talc (corresponding to 0.0000722%). Additionally, Ilgren et al (2017) found no asbestos in their analysis, only non-asbestiform tremolite cleavage fragments. It is reassuring, indeed, that a robust body of epidemiological studies at Italian mines have supported this conclusion, consistently showing no association with mesothelioma and lung cancer risk (Ciocan et al, 2022;Coggiola et al, 2003;Ierardi et al, 2022;Marsh et al, 2019;Pira et al, 2017;Rubino et al, 1976Rubino et al, , 1979.…”

“…Lastly, the studies cited in the letter (Ilgren et al, 2017;Rohl et al, 1976) are historical cosmetic talc samples, which are not relevant to our study, and we are not aware that Longo and Rigler (2019) has been published.…”

Holton et al., Characterization of asbestos exposures associated with the use of facial makeups. Risk Analysis, 42, 2129–2139

“…In 1976, Rohl and colleagues analyzed a sample of Coty Airspun Face Powder and reported it to contain asbestos fibers in the range of 8-20% (Rohl et al, 1976). Ilgren and colleagues reported finding 3.7 million tremolite fibers per gram of talc in a container of Italian talc (Ilgren et al, 2017). American mine sources began to be used in the latter part of the 20th century.…”