The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified naturally occurring talc as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). Talc is used in products such as powder, cosmetics and chewing gum. Researchers at the IARC found that there was limited evidence that talc caused ovarian cancer and that it caused cancer in animals tested in the laboratory.
Talc is a mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. In nature, talc can be found together with asbestos which is commonly known to cause cancer. When mined, it is difficult to separate talc and asbestos causing cross contamination. Talcum used in powder for example still contains dangerous asbestos.
Last May, the Johnson & Johnson company agreed to pay $6.48 billion in compensation as an agreement to settle more than 54,000 class action lawsuits filed by ovarian cancer patients in the United States. In Malaysia, the Penang Consumer Association (CAP) has urged the Ministry of Health to ban talcum-based powder from the market from 2022.