You may have seen reports about suggested links between the use of cosmetic talc and cancer in the media recently and we understand that this is likely to cause concern. CTPA sets out the science behind these claims to show that no causal link has been established between cosmetic talc and cancer.
Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General of CTPA and a pharmacist says:
“I can understand the concern people may have on reading and hearing suggestions that cosmetic products containing talc could cause harm. I would like to reassure you that the science does not support this claim.
Only pure, asbestos-free talc is permitted for use in cosmetic products. We have extremely strong legislation in place in the UK to ensure that all our cosmetic products, and their ingredients, are safe to use and enjoy every day.”
Please see our in-depth page on Cosmetic Talc for further detailed information.
Only the Purest, Asbestos-Free Grades of Talc are Selected for Cosmetic Use
There are many grades of talc, each of which is categorised according to levels of purity. At the top of this purity scale is pharmaceutical and cosmetic grade talc. Only talc which meets very high levels of quality and purity is permitted for use in cosmetics and personal care products.
Only asbestos-free cosmetic grade talc of the highest quality and purity is used in cosmetic products. Selective mining, testing and the application of rigorous quality standards ensure cosmetic talc is free from asbestos fibres. Cosmetic manufacturers only source talc from mines with talc seams which are known to be of very high purity, and from reputable suppliers with strict testing controls.
Cosmetic talc is very different from industrial materials called "talc" which can have low real talc content and may contain many impurities.
What the Science Says about Talc Safety
Talc, including cosmetic talc, is an extremely well-studied substance. Our online resource on Cosmetic Talc provides an overview of many of the scientific papers and investigations over the past 30 years. As a large number of scientific studies have been conducted over the years, some review studies have been published recently which analyse all the findings from the past studies to see whether overall, they show a particular finding. A review study conducted in 2023 concluded that when taking all the evidence into account, talc used in cosmetic products does not have cancer causing potential [1]. In 2020, a US Government funded study on a quarter of a million women found no link between talc and ovarian cancer [2].
The many scientific studies conducted on talc share one common factor. None of the studies have found a causative link, meaning that none of the studies have shown that using cosmetic talc causes cancer.
This lack of causality is noted by numerous independent scientific organisations including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in its latest review of talc, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Cancer Research UK.
[1] Lynch HN, Lauer DJ, Leleck OM, Freid RD, Collins J, Chen K, Thompson WJ, Ierardi AM, Urban A, Boffetta P and Mundt KA (2023) Systematic review of the association between talc and female reproductive tract cancers. Front. Toxicol. 5:1157761. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1157761
[2] O'Brien KM, Tworoger SS, Harris HR, Anderson GL, Weinberg CR, Trabert B, Kaunitz AM, D'Aloisio AA, Sandler DP, Wentzensen N. Association of Powder Use in the Genital Area With Risk of Ovarian Cancer. JAMA. 2020 Jan 7;323(1):49-59. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.20079. PMID: 31910280; PMCID: PMC6990816
Cosmetic Products and their Ingredients Must be Safe by Law
All cosmetic products, and their ingredients, placed on the UK market have to be safe. This includes cosmetic talc. In the UK, the manufacture and supply of cosmetic products are governed by the UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR). Legislation covering the safety of cosmetic products has been in place in the UK and EU for over 40 years. Both regulations have the same strict safety requirements, that a cosmetic product must be safe for the consumer under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
A crucial aspect of the strict safety requirements is the legally required safety assessment. This looks at the wealth of science behind the ingredients, who uses the products, how and where they are used and how often over a lifetime. Once on sale, companies continue to monitor consumers’ use of their products, for example by recording and monitoring any undesirable reactions, as well as reviewing any new science that becomes available, to confirm the safety of products on an ongoing basis.
All ingredients within cosmetic products must be safe and ingredients are regularly reviewed by independent scientists. If an ingredient were found to be unsafe as used in a cosmetic product, it would be banned. The UKCR contains extensive Annexes of banned and restricted substances. Asbestos is banned in cosmetic products under both the UK and EU Cosmetics Regulations.
