01. Asbestos in Cosmetics
Why Is Asbestos in Cosmetics?
Because talc is a mineral found naturally near asbestos, it is frequently contaminated with asbestos. Mined talc often requires purification before it’s added to consumer goods.
Talc is currently an ingredient in many popular products. The ingredient can be found in supplements, medicine tablets, polished rice, chewing gum and cosmetics. It can also be used to process food.
Is Talc Safe?
Studies have shown talc is a safe ingredient, as long as it is free of asbestos. However, cosmetic talc regulations are limited, allowing many contaminated talc-based products to reach consumers.
The use of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in consumer products has been a building issue in recent years. In October 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of baby powder after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) found trace levels of asbestos in the product. The discovery of asbestos in a popular household brand brought awareness to the dangers of contaminated talc and the need for stricter consumer product testing and regulations. In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson said it would no longer sell talc-based baby powder in North America.
Talcum Powder Use in Makeup
Talc is a common ingredient used in makeup. Talc is most common in powder-based products, such as eyeshadows, blush and powder foundation. Talcum powder may be listed as talcum powder, talcum, talc, cosmetic talc or magnesium silicate in an ingredient list. Companies use talc in makeup for a variety of reasons.
Are There Talcum Powder Alternatives?
Cosmetic formulas continue to evolve, incorporating alternatives for talcum powder.
Ingredients that may provide similar benefits include silica, zinc oxide, corn starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, kaolin and rice powder. The safety of these alternatives still requires further testing.
Talc is still a very common ingredient in makeup products. If consumers continue to use products that contain talc, they should be aware of what products have proven asbestos contamination.
02. Makeup With Asbestos
What Makeup Has Asbestos?
As claims of asbestos in cosmetics emerge, the FDA is actively investigating more products across the United States. For instance, the FDA has performed testing for beauty products sold at Claire’s and Justice in several different states to confirm the presence of asbestos.
New cases of asbestos in makeup continue to emerge. As concerns regarding asbestos in makeup rise, more action is being taken to establish stricter cosmetic talc regulations.
03. Latest News
Latest News on Asbestos and Cosmetics
04. Asbestos in Children’s Makeup
Asbestos in Children’s Makeup
No level of asbestos exposure is safe, though long-term exposure may increase the risk of developing illnesses such as asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma. A major point of concern is the presence of asbestos in children’s makeup. Children have thinner skin, making them more susceptible to health risks from harmful chemicals.
In 2015, asbestos was found in crime scene investigation toys and crayons. This was one of the first major asbestos-related events involving children’s products.
Within the last few years, several different children’s products have been found to contain asbestos, such as those sold at Claire’s and Justice. Kids’ makeup has been one of the biggest issues because it is frequently made with talc. Every product is not tested for asbestos, so there could be other contaminated products being marketed to children.
Why Is Asbestos in Children’s Makeup?
Retailers often have contracts with suppliers to create their makeup products. Despite the well-known dangers of asbestos, talc suppliers continue to deliver contaminated products. This includes suppliers in the United States and overseas.
EWG warns toy makeup kits are often made with cheap ingredients, which are more likely to contain asbestos. EWG’s Vice President for Healthy Living Science, Nneka Leiba, has voiced his concerns, stating profits are not as important as protecting children from a carcinogen such as asbestos.
05. Talc Regulations
Regulations for Cosmetics with Asbestos
The dangers of asbestos have been well-known since the 1960s. Awareness of the need for stricter talc regulations emerged in the late 1970s. Until recently, little progress has been made to establish federal legislation to ensure talc products are asbestos-free.
Defining Asbestos-Free Cosmetics
The United States is one of several countries without a full ban on asbestos. Lacking such a ban, low levels of asbestos use continue.
Products in the United States can be labeled “asbestos-free” if they contain up to one percent of the mineral. However, one percent of asbestos can still include hundreds of thousands of fibers. Multiple organizations, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Cancer Society assert no level of asbestos is safe.
Who Is Responsible for Cosmetic Safety?
The three primary organizations responsible for general asbestos safety include the EPA, OSHA and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
For cosmetics specifically, the FDA maintains responsibility. The FDA has been called into question for failing to ensure cosmetic safety. Cosmetic products and their ingredients aren’t required to undergo FDA approval and review. The FDA also does not strictly regulate proper labeling or require the disclosure of safety information.
The FDA does conduct product testing. However, there often needs to be a large asbestos event, such as the Claire’s recall, to warrant an investigation.
Cosmetic Talc and Asbestos Legislation
The events surrounding Johnson & Johnson baby powder and Claire’s makeup have sparked conversations with advocates and key stakeholders. Concerns surrounding federal legislation and the FDA’s practices, in particular, have led to recent calls for action.
Talc Cosmetic Regulations Timeline
- 1938: The United States Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act was passed. This law allowed the FDA to oversee the safety of cosmetics, along with food, drugs and medical devices.
- 1976: The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA), now the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), called for all talc-based cosmetic products in the United States to be free of detectable amounts of asbestos. Their attempts were unsuccessful.
- February 2018: Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell proposed the Children’s Product Warning Label Act. This would require proper labeling of children’s products with testing to prove they are asbestos-free.
- October 2019: The FDA issued a new Constituent Update warning against the use of contaminated talc cosmetics.
- December 2019: Congressional hearings began to discuss talc cosmetic safety.
- February 2020: The FDA plans to hold a public meeting to discuss testing for asbestos in talcum powder and talc cosmetics.
Advocates hope these actions will encourage stricter regulations for cosmetic testing. Proper testing may also require manufacturers to clearly label whether or not their product may contain trace levels of asbestos.
06. Asbestos Cosmetic Testing
Testing for Asbestos in Cosmetics
Asbestos fibers are microscopic and are not visible to the naked eye. Three of the most common methods used to test for asbestos include Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM), Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
The EPA asserts TEM is the best method to use. TEM uses extreme magnification to conduct morphology, crystalline structure and elemental analysis. This method can identify asbestos fibers in the air and products such as makeup.
Stores such as Claire’s and Justice use labs certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to test their products. However, the organization does not necessarily use TEM testing. When labs use PCM or PLM methods, they may not pick up on low levels of asbestos. This could lead them to deem a product asbestos-free when there are still harmful amounts present.
07. Safety Precautions
Safety Precautions for Asbestos Cosmetics
Individuals should always be aware of the dangers of asbestos and what products could contain the mineral. The FDA and EWG will occasionally issue warnings when there are concerns around consumer products.
The EWG asserts parents and guardians are entitled to make their own decisions regarding whether or not their children should use makeup. However, parents should exercise precautions when purchasing a talc-based product.
Steps to Using Safe Cosmetics
Precautions can be taken to protect children and adults from the dangers of asbestos-contaminated cosmetics, including:
- Consider brands marked talc-free, phthalate-free and paraben-free
- Keep in mind the lack of regulations and monitoring of cosmetics
- Stay up to date on product recalls and consumer safety reports
- Understand children have thinner skin than adults and are more vulnerable to harmful ingredients
- Be cautious of powder cosmetics that are more likely to contain contaminated talc
- Stop use immediately if a product’s safety is in question
Consumers should be aware of what ingredients are in the products they are using and understand not all ingredients are disclosed. If there is asbestos in a product and an individual has been exposed, symptoms of an asbestos illness could take years to develop. If symptoms of mesothelioma or another asbestos condition arise, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible to help ensure an early diagnosis.
