Baby powder (talcum powder) has been used to soothe babies’ diaper rash and other irritations. Talc is used on babies because it absorbs unpleasant moisture. Clearly, dusting with talcum powder endangers an infant’s lungs at the prospect of inhalation.
Talc is a mineral, produced by the mining of talc rocks and then processed by crushing, drying and milling. It is closely related to the potent carcinogen asbestos. Talc is found in a wide variety of consumer products ranging from home and garden pesticides to antacids. However, the products most widely used and that pose the most serious health risks are body powders.
It is the main ingredient in baby powder, medicated powders, perfumed powders and designer perfumed body powders. Because talc is resistant to moisture, it is also used by the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture medications and is a listed ingredient of some antacids. It is the principal ingredient home and garden pesticides and flea and tick powders. It is used in smaller quantities in deodorants, chalk, crayons, textiles, soap, insulating materials, paints, asphalt filler, paper, and in food processing.
It is toxic. Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries and lungs. Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use of talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer. Talc particles are able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum powder in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.
It poses a health risk when exposed to the lungs. Talc miners have shown higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses from exposure to industrial grade talc, which contains dangerous silica and asbestos. The common household hazard posed by talc is inhalation of baby powder by infants. Since the early 1980s, records show that several thousand infants each year have died or become seriously ill following accidental inhalation of baby powder. A link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer has been supported by nearly 30 studies over the past 30 years published in scientific journals.
Discourage the use of talc in the genital hygiene, particularly as a daily habit. Corn starch, rice starch, flour or white clay instead of talc in cosmetics can reduce the risks of the same and is highly recommended. There is no evidence linking cornstarch-based powders to the disease. You can also use “liquid powder” to protect your infant all over, without worrying about inhalation of airborne particles. This fragrance-free formula starts out as a light, safe lotion and dries into a silky, soft powder.Once it hits the skin, it dries almost immediately, making skin feel silky soft and wonderful smelling, without leaving a powdery mess on the floor. Apply after bathing, as a deodorant or to cool skin and absorb perspiration on hot days.
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