‘Talc Products Contain Asbestos’

A report by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer Classification, says some talc-based products such as talc powder and cosmetics are carcinogenic because they contain asbestos.
According to the report, asbestos are close to talc deposits underground and can contaminate talc during mining.
Meanwhile, Foundation of the Conservation of the Earth (FOCONE), a Nigerian based non-governmental organisation, has called for the immediate withdrawal of talc products from the Nigerian market.
Consultant to the foundation, Kingsley Ozegbe, told newsmen at a press briefing in Port Harcourt that the use of cosmetic talc can cause mesothelioma.
According to the group, “mesothelioma is a malignant tumour that is caused by inhaled asbestos fibres and forms n the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
“Symptoms can include shortness of breath and chest pains,” adding that life expectancy for most mesothelioma patients is approximately 12 months after diagnosis.
The foundation wondered why a product which is not safe in the United States and Canada does suddenly become safe for humans in other parts of the world and Nigeria in particular and urged for the discontinuation of sales of talc-based products in Nigeria.
“We call on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal competition ad Consumer Protection Commission to robustly raise awareness about these developments to safeguard all citizens in Nigeria from harm.”
It also urged the public to note that other cosmetics like pressed powder, blush and eye shadow also contain talc, adding that consumers are advised to check products before using them.”