Three researchers – pathologist Ronald Gordon from New York; forensic engineer James Millette from Duluth, Georgia; and geologist Sean Fitzgerald from Greensboro, North Carolina – have spent more than a year in three separate laboratories tracking asbestos-containing talc, which originated in mines and some of which ended up in cosmetic products, where it caused a female consumer to develop mesothelioma. Last month, the researchers announced the results of the study in an online publication, the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
“Of course we knew that there was asbestos contaminating the talc in many cosmetic powders, but who would have ever thought that that’s the way these women were being exposed?” asked Gordon, still incredulous over the findings.
Mesothelioma is primarily caused by asbestos exposure, and although asbestos has been banned since the 1970s, approximately 3,000 individuals are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Usually, the exposure happens as a result of a renovation or demolition project, when old asbestos-containing structures are disturbed. The disease has a long latency period, which, when coupled with the fact that its symptoms mimic those of other illnesses, makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose it in a timely manner. The five-year survival rate for mesothelioma patients is approximately 10%.
Although asbestos has been banned for several decades, talc is used in thousands of products, so if the talc is derived from asbestos-contaminated mines, public safety becomes an issue. Cosmetics, for example, are used by millions of people, usually in the confined space of a bathroom or bedroom. “Every time I test a variety of the off-the-shelf cosmetics, I always find asbestos in some of the talc,” said Fitzgerald, one of the study’s authors. “This remains a hazard to consumers that should not be ignored. In effect,” he added, “you’re literally throwing it in your face.”
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