Talc baby powder was banned due to some documentation about its structure and the asbestos found in it. What is talcum powder used for? Talc is made from talc, a mineral mainly composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps reduce friction, which helps keep skin dry and helps prevent breakouts. Talc is a powdered natural hydrated magnesium silicate, sometimes containing a small fraction of aluminum silicate Talc has many uses in cosmetics and other personal care products. For example, it can be used to absorb moisture, prevent caking, opaque facial makeup or improve the feel of products. Talc imparts a range of benefits to coatings. 
In the interior and exterior decorative coatings, they act as extenders to improve the hiding power and efficiency of titanium dioxide. Talc flakes aid in paint application and improve resistance to cracking and sagging. They also improved the cushions. In anti-corrosion primers, talc is used to improve corrosion resistance and paint adhesion. Talc also provides benefits for inks, joint compounds, caulks, and adhesives. Talc can be contaminated with asbestos fibers, causing respiratory toxicity and cancer risk. Research by the National Toxicology Panel has shown that non-asbestos cosmetic-grade talc, a form of magnesium silicate, can also be toxic and carcinogenic. Talc in its natural form contains asbestos. Asbestos is a silicate mineral that is used in insulation and makes the material fire-resistant through its flexible, heat-resistant fibers. Asbestos is highly toxic when inhaled or ingested because the fibers are trapped in the body. These trapped fibers can cause scarring and inflammation from within. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, lung disease, and even cancer. While the link between talc and cancer is not 100% clear, many people can feel safer by avoiding it. Anyone looking to limit talc in their daily routine may want to consider switching to talc-free brands of powders, makeup, deodorants, and other products. 
talcum powder
What is talcum powder? Talc is a natural mineral that belongs to the same family as clays. It has been known and used as a skincare ingredient since ancient times. It has been used historically for its absorbing properties. Where does it come from? In cosmetics, talc can be of natural origin or, in some cases, synthetic. Talc is obtained by powder reduction and purification of magnesium silicate, a natural crystalline mineral. What is it for? Talc is used in several cosmetic products for its many properties and benefits, such as antiperspirants, foundations, feminine hygiene products, and baby care products. It is used for absorption properties and transparency. It gives a soft and silky finish to the skin. In formulations, it improves fragrance persistence and allows for better texture adhesion and efficient pigment dispersion. Why is it questioned? Talc has been accused of being carcinogenic when used in feminine hygiene products because it may contain traces of asbestos, which is known to cause cancer when inhaled. Talc has also been accused of irritating. Finally, talc procurement can be controversial because revenue from talc supply from Pakistan and Afghanistan could help finance terrorist groups. After all, mining is opaque and poorly regulated. Talc is usually green, white, gray, brown, or colorless. It is a translucent mineral with a pearly luster. It is the softest known mineral, with a hardness of 1 on the Mohs hardness scale. Consumed talc is used in the manufacture of ceramic products such as bathroom fixtures, tiles, crockery, and tableware. When used as a filler in ceramics, talc can improve the firing characteristics of the green body and the strength of the finished product. Talc is also a very bright white. This makes talc an excellent filler in paints as it acts both to whiten and brighten the paint. 
is talcum powder banned
Is talcum powder banned from the market? One of the leading companies producing talc-containing powders is Johnson & Johnson. Multinational healthcare company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is moving toward a global recall of the sale of talc-containing baby powders amid concerns the product may pose a cancer risk. Johnson's baby powder was voluntarily removed from store shelves in North America in 2020 after regulators discovered traces of the carcinogenic fiber, a form of asbestos, in a sample taken in 2019. The resulting public relations crisis caused a sharp drop in sales so much so that J&J was forced to withdraw the product from sale the following year, although it remained available in the rest of the world, including the UK. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) withdrew talc-containing baby powder from sale in the United States and Canada in 2020. Baby powder sales fell after U.S. regulators discovered carcinogenic chrysotile fibers, a type of asbestos, in a sample. The company now faces more than 34,000 lawsuits, including several women who claim they used baby powder and later developed ovarian cancer. For decades, well-known Johnson & Johnson has created a staple in every baby's nursery, Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. Millions of parents have used these talcum powders as a way to reduce the incidence of diaper rash and remove moisture from babies' diapers. 
However, Johnson & Johnson baby products containing talc have been found to contain asbestos, a carcinogen. This discovery led the European Union to ban products containing talc, as the mineral talc may contain the mineral asbestos within it. Johnson & Johnson has been defending the product until now but has discontinued it in the United States. The United States has not issued a similar ban on any products containing talc, which is still easy to buy at any retail pharmacy. These talc-containing products are still on the shelves, as Johnson & Johnson's baby products were not banned, rather the company made a decision not to manufacture or distribute any more talc-containing products. The products that remain on the shelves will continue to be sold until they are sold out. Unfortunately for Johnson & Johnson, its internal records tell a very different story regarding its position regarding the safety of its talc-containing products. According to Reuters, records show that Johnson & Johnson was aware of asbestos in its products from 1971 to the 2000s. As a carcinogen, asbestos is associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, peritoneal cancer, and testicular mesothelioma. Johnson & Johnson realized that asbestos was carcinogenic and later discovered that the talc in its baby products contained asbestos. While the amount of asbestos was small, internal documents show that many people in high places continued to raise serious concerns with consumers about the safety of their products. 
talc chemical structure
Talc has a chemical structure that is a hydrated silicate of magnesium with the chemical formula Mg3Si4O10 (OH) 2. The primary plate consists of a layer of magnesium and oxygen/hydroxyl octahedral, sandwiched between two layers of silicon and oxygen tetrahedron. The main or basal surfaces of this initial layer do not contain active hydroxyl groups or ions, which explains why talc is water-permeable and inert. Talc is practically insoluble in water and weak acids and alkalis. It is not explosive or flammable. Although it is less chemically reactive, talc has a remarkable affinity for some organic chemicals, that is, it is organophilic. Above 900 ° C, talc gradually loses its hydroxyl groups and above 1050 ° C, it recrystallizes into various forms of enstatite (anhydrous magnesium silicate). The melting point of talc is 1500 ° C. It can be divided into two main types of sediments: talc chlorite and talc carbonate. 
The mineral bodies of talc chlorite consist mainly of talc (sometimes 100%) and chlorite, which is hydrated magnesium and aluminum silicate. Chlorite is lamellar, soft, and as organic as talc. However, it is more waterproof. The talc carbonate deposit consists mainly of talc carbonate and traces of chlorite. The carbonates are usually magnesite (magnesium carbonate) or dolomite (calcium and magnesium carbonate). Talc - Carbonate minerals are processed to remove the associated minerals and produce pure talc concentrate. Talc's properties (flatness, softness, hydrophobicity, organic affinity, inertness, and mineral composition) provide specific functions in many industries. Talc has many uses in cosmetics and other personal care products. For example, it can be used to absorb moisture, prevent caking, make facial makeup opaque, or improve the texture of the product. Despite many uses, there is one potential problem with talc powder. There is a potential for talc to be contaminated with asbestos, and therefore it is important to choose talc mining sites carefully and take steps to adequately test the mineral. 
properties of talc
Most people are familiar with the properties of the mineral talc. It can be ground into a white powder widely known as "talcum powder". This powder can absorb moisture, oils, and odors act as a lubricant, and produce an astringent effect on human skin. These properties make talcum powder an important ingredient in many baby powders, foot powders, first aid powders, and a variety of cosmetics. Talc is usually green, white, gray, brown, or colorless. Talc is a translucent mineral with a pearly sheen. Talc is the softest known mineral and is assigned a hardness of 1 (compared to diamond's hardness of 10) on the Mohs scale of hardness. Talc has the characteristics of a hydrophobic surface, chemical inertness, and slippery feeling. Although all talcs share the same basic properties (inertness, softness, water repellency, and affinity for organic matter), each talc ore body has its characteristics, so no two tarts are exactly alike. In general, talc is a semi-free flowing powder, and talc tends to liquefy, meaning that the fine talc particles take on the characteristics of a liquid. It is best to keep the talcum powder as dry as possible. Talc can be blue, pale green, gray, pink, white, yellowish white, or almost silvery brown. Its shine is pearly or oily. What determines these properties are their natural or artificial impurities. Talc has a hardness of one on the Mo hardness scale. This results in a very soft material, as a result of its multi-layered nature. Naturally, this material is hydrophobic (doesn't like water) and tends not to absorb water, giving it some of your favorite water-resistant properties. Some alternatives to talc when making ceramics are clay and pyrophyllite. Kaolin and mica can be substituted in place of talc in the production of rubber and plastic coatings. For the production of paper, kaolin can be used instead of talc. Talc is plentiful in sufficient quantities for many decades, but some of these alternatives can be profitable based on the cost of talc. 
is talc crystalline or amorphous?
Is talc crystalline or amorphous you might wonder? Does talc contain crystalline silica? Crystalline silica is one of the most common minerals on our planet, accounting for about 12% of the earth's crust. As in most natural mineral substances, talc may contain some crystalline silica (usually less than 5%). Talc is a white to grayish-white (odorless) odorless crystalline powder. Easily adheres to the skin. It is non-flammable, non-combustible and non-toxic. Crystalline silica is one of the most common minerals on our planet, accounting for about 12% of the Earth's crust. As in most naturally occurring mineral substances, talc can contain some crystalline silica (generally less than 5%). The main health effect of exposure to crystalline silica is silicosis, which is progressive and debilitating fibrosis. This disease develops as a result of long-term exposure to excessive amounts of breathable crystalline silica particles. A recent assessment (IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer - 1997) concluded that crystalline silica is carcinogenic to humans. This conclusion was limited to certain professional circumstances only. There is a consistent body of evidence supporting the fact that the carcinogenic effects, if any, are secondary to the known fibrous effect of crystalline silica. At the current stage, all confirmed evidence indicates that prevention is the appropriate way to manage this problem. The risks of silicosis should be assessed and managed in the workplace, where the product is handled, primarily by complying with Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) for quartz. There is no clinical evidence to suggest that talc causes lung cancer. Mortality studies conducted over the past 20 years in France, Austria, Italy, and Norway on talc workers who were exposed to talc dust throughout their lives, have shown that there is no increased risk of cancer among these people compared to the general population. Thus, the silica content in these talcs does not show any evidence that they are carcinogenic. 
baby powder talc
Talc baby powder is made from talc, a mineral composed primarily of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps reduce friction, which makes it useful for keeping the skin dry and helps prevent cracks. It is widely used in cosmetics such as baby powder, adult body and face powders, as well as several other consumer products. Talc, also known as talcum powder, is a very stable, chemically inert, and odorless mineral. The degree of purity of talc used in cosmetics is a high purity, compared to that used in pharmaceutical applications, and is only extracted from selected sediments at approved sites before being ground into relatively large, unbreathable particles. Today, talc is considered safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products worldwide. After decades of study by medical experts around the world, science, research, and clinical evidence have shown that few ingredients have the same performance, moderation, and safety as talc. Some powders in their natural form contain asbestos, a substance known to cause cancer in and around the lungs when inhaled (see asbestos). 
In 1976, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Perfumery Association (CTFA), an industry association for cosmetics and personal care products, issued voluntary guidelines stating that all talc used in cosmetics in the United States must be free from detectable amounts of asbestos. to their standards. When discussing whether or not talcum powder is linked to cancer, it is important to distinguish between talc that contains asbestos and talc that does not contain asbestos. It is generally accepted that talc-containing asbestos can cause cancer if inhaled. Evidence for non-asbestos talc is less clear. The most common cosmetic applications of talc are in the face, body, and baby powders, but it is also used as an ingredient in color cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste, antiperspirants, chewing gums, and pills.