The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified talc as “probably carcinogenic†to humans. After an “exhaustive analysis†of the available scientific literature, carried out by a group of 29 international experts, the result of the evaluation was published this Friday in a synthesis article published in the scientific journal The Lancet Oncology.
The WHO body placed talc in group 2A of the classification, which corresponds to the second highest level of certainty that a substance can cause cancer. The decision is based on a “combination of limited evidence of cancer in humans†, specifically in the ovary, “sufficient evidence of cancer in laboratory animals†and “strong mechanistic evidence that Talc presents key characteristics of carcinogens in human primary cells and experimental systems.
The IARC explains that exposure to talc, a mineral mined in various regions of the world, occurs in a professional environment during extraction, grinding and processing or during the manufacture of products that contain it. Exposure to the general population occurs mainly through the use of cosmetics and body powders, but it is also “likely†through s of food or medicine. Another concern is the contamination of talc with asbestos.
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The analysis concluded that “numerous studies†have “consistently†demonstrated an increased incidence of ovarian cancer in people who declared use talcum powder in the perineal region. “Although the evaluation focused on talc that did not contain asbestos, contamination of talc with asbestos could not be excluded in most studies with exposed humans,†points out the agency.
Furthermore, it was also not possible to exclude “the existence of biases in the way the use of talc was communicated in epidemiological studies†. “As a result, it was not possible to fully establish a causal role for talc,†stresses IARC.
An increase in the rate of ovarian cancer was also observed in studies that analyzed the occupational exposure of women working in the paper pulp industry, but it was not possible to eliminate the possibility of “confusion†€ due to simultaneous exposure to asbestos.
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As for animals, in this case rats, the talc caused an increase in the incidence of malignant neoplasms in females (adrenal medulla and lung) and benign and malignant neoplasms in males (adrenal medulla).
Within the scope of the same work, acrylonitrile, a compound used in plastic and textiles, was placed in group 1 due to its classification as “carcinogenic†, especially due to the existence of “sufficient evidence†of lung cancer in humans.
