Talcum powder is made from talc; magnesium, silicon, and oxygen are main elements of talc. It is one of the most common ingredients of cosmetic products such as baby powder, personal care products, contraceptives, anti-chafing products, deodorants, etc. as it absorbs moisture well and helps reduce friction.
In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a known human carcinogen. Regulations were made by the U.S. government in 1973, requiring all talcum powders to be free of asbestos.
Some of the most popular talcum powder products are the following:
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Johnson's Baby Powder
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Shower-to-Shower (Johnson & Johnson)
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Cashmere Bouquet (Colgate-Palmolive)
Johnson's Baby Powder, one of the most popular products containing talcum powder, is linked to increasing a woman's risk of ovarian cancer if she uses it regularly in the genital area. In a few cases, the cancer tissue was studied using an electron microscope and was found to have talc in it, which supported the claim that the cancer was caused by the body powder and increases the talc related cancer risk.