Talc issue

Hi Everyone,

There is again a hysterical hyperbole aroused, I have to react to avoid the escalation of the pseudoscientific reasoning.

This case the circus is around the talcum powder, and thanks God it has reached also our circles.

Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who claimed her ovarian cancer was caused by talcum powder. Probably that is the news that generated the growing madness this time.

In terms of this order, I would draw the attention to the fact that this verdict was delivered by a jury in America, not a judge. It’s just the American judicial system. If anyone would take this case through courts where a judge, not “12 Angry Men”, would have to be convinced of the scientific evidence, I don’t think the complainant would stand a chance.

It is also good to know that perineal talc use has been associated with the lady’s ovarian cancer. ( Not hair removal talc use.)

Not only my personal opinion but also common medical advice is;  women shouldn’t use talcum powder in the genital area. Not because it can cause cancer, but because it can lead to pelvic or vaginal infections that could potentially cause infertility or chronic pelvic pain, etc.

It is also a fact that should not be forgotten, that ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death in women, the definite cause of it is still unknown and there is no screening tool for it. All science has been able to show so far are some of the risk factors.

Probably people are so keen to believe there is a connection is because so little is known about ovarian cancer in general.

Still a little additive to it;  as per The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) there is “limited evidence in humans” for an association between genital use of talc-based body powder and ovarian cancer.

However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer committee classified talc as possibly carcinogenic. (The phrase “possible carcinogens” seems a little ambiguous though since aloe vera whole leaf extract falls in the same category).

It is also worth knowing that talc was considered harmful because of its asbestos fiber content, since the 1970s no talcum is distributed that contain asbestos.

Although inhalation studies on rats showed a link to lung damage in different forms, this study does not extrapolate to humans. Plus, the study was conducted with rats being forced to inhale the talc for 6 hours a day for 2 years…

Anyway, do not inhale talc, or corn starch or not even rice powder!

I found a really decent, and clever article about the talc issue, here it is if you want to get deeper;     http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/92/3/249.full

If you’re concerned overall about talcum powder, then simply do not use it, that is what is so great about this whole personal care products industry…..your right to choose among the many products available.

My sincerest hope is that we all choose based on the facts and not out of fear perpetuated by misguided and scientifically challenged bloggers, literally taking everything they see written by others, and regurgitate it into the endless flurry of unsubstantiated science.

And do not forget that also smoking, drinking and having unprotected sex has long been considered risky behavior!

Final warning; do not use cotton swabs in your ear – it is said so and considered to be dangerous in the instruction that is printed on the Q-Tips’ box! 🙂

Have a good day,

Gertrud Borbiro