Summer 2024 Update: Toxic Talc
An insightful podcast broadcast on the BBC this summer raised the profile of the hazard posed by the presence of talc in make-up, cosmetics and personal hygiene products in the UK.1 The first 14-minute episode of “Talc Tales” – part of the How They Made Us Doubt Everything series – featured the case of British woman Hannah Fletcher, who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at the age of 41.2 Having eliminated occupational and domestic asbestos exposures, Ms Fletcher believed that her cancer had been caused by the presence of asbestos fibers in talcum powder she had used between 1976 and 2001. Her theory was substantiated by an analysis of material taken during a biopsy which found asbestos fibers and talc in the tissue samples. New York pathologist Professor Gordon concluded that substantial exposure to asbestos and talc had, indeed, caused Ms Fletcher’s mesothelioma. Prior to the commencement of a trial in a NY court, defendants Clinique and Estee Lauder agreed to a “substantial” settlement.3
Spurred by the case of Ms. Fletcher, podcast broadcaster Phoebe Keane submitted the contents of her make-up bag for analysis. The results, which were delivered in the last of the five episodes, validated the ongoing hazard posed by the use of talc in cosmetics.
Throughout the podcasts, Keane talked to leading figures in the campaign to quantify the nature of the talc hazard including Professor David Michaels, US Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health 2009-2017 and mesothelioma expert Dr Astero Klampatsa from the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Their input was informative and disturbing in equal measure. Professor Michaels documented how talc vested interests manipulated the agenda to create confusion over fiber measurements, developing a spurious and inaccurate analysis technique that was adopted not only in the US but around the world. Asked for her opinion on the risk of using talc-containing products, Dr Klampatsa suggested consumers avoid “any unnecessary [asbestos] exposure.” “I would,” she advised “personally choose a talc-free product.”4
The legal backdrop to these podcasts underlined the significance of their content with yet another major cosmetics conglomerate – Avon Products, Inc. – seeking protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws at the same time as Johnson & Johnson was progressing efforts to resolve 61,000+ cancer claims over the presence of asbestos fibers in its iconic talc-based baby powder.5
The importance of “Talc Tales” should be viewed in light of the impotence of British government agencies which have for years turned a deaf ear to complaints over the sale of asbestos-contaminated products. Six years ago, evidence was provided to UK authorities documenting the presence of tremolite asbestos in children’s products sold at a London outlet of Claire’s Accessories.6
Explaining the results obtained from the UK samples, US analyst Sean Fitzgerald said:
“I prepared eight individual samples from four of the kits sent to me, in which I confirmed the presence of tremolite asbestos in half of them. These subsamples were taken from three of the four kits. Here's the breakdown:
1. Claire's Natural Eye Eyeshadow: 3 tests – no asbestos detected.
2. Claire's Blusher: one test – contains tremolite asbestos.
3. Claire's “Unicorn Powder” eyeshadow: one test – contains tremolite asbestos.
4. Claire's Eyeshadows: three tests – 2 out of 3 positive for tremolite asbestos.” 7
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| Analysis of the UNICORN PWR Glittery Eyeshadow Compact’s mineral and possible asbestos content by TEM revealed 8,750,000 tremolite asbestos structures per gram. | |
Even having been provided with a copy of the damning scientific evidence, none of the Trading and Standards departments contacted acted on the threat posed to consumers of these toxic children’s products; there were no product recalls, public health warnings or official UK investigations of Claire’s talc-based products.
Podcaster Phoebe Keane said that she hoped listeners would be better informed about the talc hazard as a result of “Talc Tales.” Whilst consumers do have a role to play in taking responsibility for their own safety, toxic products should not be on sale in the first place. Surely, that’s not too much to ask?
August 27, 2024
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1 BBC. How they How They Made Us Doubt Everything. Talc Tales.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001yysj
2 Leigh Day. Hannah Fletcher: exposing asbestos in cosmetics and talc. August 2, 2024.
https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/client-stories/hannah-fletcher-exposing-asbestos-in-cosmetics-and-talc/
3 Karpf, A. Is there asbestos in your makeup? Why women with cancer are suing big beauty brands.
June 10, 2024.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jun/10/is-there-asbestos-in-your-makeup-why-women-with-cancer-are-suing-big-beauty-brands
4 Buchanunn, J. Experimental Techniques Centre finds asbestos fibres in make-up for BBC documentary. August 12, 2024.
https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Experimental-Techniques-Centre-finds-asbestos-fibres-in-make-up-for-BBC-documentary
5 Avon Products Inc. Avon Products, Inc. Takes Steps to Address Debt and Legacy Liabilities in U.S. Court Process. August 12, 2024.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avon-products-inc-takes-steps-to-address-debt-and-legacy-liabilities-in-us-court-process-302220491.html
Knauth, D. J&J has enough support from claimants for $6.5-billion talc settlement, Bloomberg reports. August 13, 2024.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/jj-has-enough-support-claimants-65-billion-talc-settlement-bloomberg-2024-08-12/
6 Press Release: Asbestos in Children’s Products Sold in UK. May 21, 2018.
http://ibasecretariat.org/forum-ibas-asbestos-in-childrens-products-sold-in-uk.pdf
7 Scientific Analytical Institute. Report on Asbestos Testing of Various UK Claire’s Products. May 16, 2018.
http://ibasecretariat.org/sf-scient-analytic-inst-asb-rep-may-16-2018.pdf
