Key takeaways: Asbestos is a carcinogenic, naturally-occurring group of minerals that was
previously used as construction, insulating, building, and packaging material. Because links
between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma have been established and studied, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made significant strides in curbing the use of
asbestos (and/or making its use much more safe and protected). Despite these widespread efforts,
asbestos isn’t completely banned in the United States; rather, it’s tightly regulated. And, despite
these regulations, asbestos is still commonplace enough that consumers run the risk of exposure, and there can be asbestos in cosmetics. One example of known contemporary exposure to asbestos is in makeup (and specifically,
talc-based) products.
Talc-based Cosmetics
Talc is a filler product: it absorbs moisture, keeps makeup products structurally cohesive, and
makes products more spreadable/durable. Thousands of makeup products today use talc as one of
their main ingredients. However, because talc is a mined product (just like asbestos), how and
where talc is mined matters. Some talc is mined near or within asbestos mines; in the same vein,
talc products might be packaged with asbestos products. Whatever the reason for contamination,
it’s important to be aware of the potential for asbestos exposure.
In a 2020 study conducted by Stoiber et al., 21 talc-based makeup products were tested for
asbestos; three of the 21 were found to contain asbestos. One of these products was explicitly
marketed towards children, and the other two were eyeshadow palettes. In a similar study
conducted in 2019 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they tested 52 talc-based
products. Nine of the 52 products tested were contaminated with asbestos.
Although asbestos contamination doesn’t occur in the majority of talc-based makeups, it still
happens frequently enough that the FDA had to alert consumers and work directly with the
cosmetic production process. Anywhere from 14-17% of all talc-based cosmetics–if we assume
these findings are widely applicable–are contaminated with asbestos. This is significant, since
people (and product producers) are collectively aware of the carcinogenic effects of asbestos
exposure. Many experts say that any exposure to asbestos is dangerous, despite size or
infrequency.
Retrospective Studies of Asbestos in Cosmetics
As of 2020, there have been over 100 mesothelioma cases that have been definitively linked to
asbestos in talc-based cosmetics. Historically, men have been more likely to develop
mesothelioma due to occupational and environmental exposures. Women also develop
mesothelioma; however, they are oftentimes unsure of when/where/how they may have been
exposed to asbestos (this is called an idiopathic diagnosis). Many researchers might augment
evidence against the idiopathic diagnosis by incorporating data about talc-based cosmetics.
Historically, women have used cosmetic products more frequently than men, and this might
account for their unknown asbestos exposures.
Retrospective studies, in this case, are exceptionally useful; however, they do not provide any
framework for moving forward. Talc is still used in many cosmetic products; talc is still sourced
in the same way, which might lead to asbestos contamination; the FDA isn’t allowed to explicitly
intervene and/or put recalls into place. Because talc-based cosmetics still pose an active risk to
consumers, it might be useful to just start having conversations about asbestos in hopes of raising
awareness.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, please call
(800)-505-6000 for legal help. For more information, fill out the form on our Homepage.
Sources:
Emory, T. S., Maddox, J. C., & Kradin, R. L. (2020). Malignant mesothelioma following
repeated exposures to cosmetic talc: A case series of 75 patients. American Journal of
Industrial Medicine, 63(6), 484–489. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23106
Stoiber, T., Fitzgerald, S., & Leiba, N. S. (2020). Asbestos Contamination in Talc-Based
Cosmetics: An Invisible Cancer Risk. Environmental Health Insights, 14, 1178630220976558. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178630220976558
