Talc powder is contained in many common household products. Talc can be found in personal care, pet care and arts and crafts products, including some deodorant sprays, talcum powder, flea powders, spray paints and powdered makeup, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Because talc is in so many products, people should be aware of the dangers associated with talc powder.
Severe Respiratory Problems
Talcum powder, routinely used in the care of infants, can cause severe respiratory problems if inhaled, according to an article by P.W. Pairaudeau and colleagues in the May 18, 1991, issue of "British Medical Journal." Talcum powder is most often inhaled when the container is accidentally inverted on the infant's face or used to distract or entertain the baby while the caretaker changes a diaper. Inhalation can cause life-threatening respiratory difficulties requiring emergency and intensive care, the authors report. They recommend drying a child's skin well after a bath, and applying a barrier cream instead of powder.
Ovarian Cancer
Although findings are mixed, the American Cancer Society reports studies suggesting that women who apply talc-containing products, such as powders and deodorant sprays, in the genital area face an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. It is suspected that tiny talc particles travel upward through the reproductive tract to the ovaries, where they may have a cancer-producing effect. The risk is small, the ACS states, but concerned women could switch to cornstarch-based powders, which have not been linked to the development of any disease.
Talcum Powder Poisoning
Poisoning can occur when talcum powder is swallowed or inhaled, according to MedlinePlus. Most frequently, it occurs when infants are exposed to long-term or accidental talc inhalation. Although breathing difficulty is the most common result, talc poisoning can manifest in a variety of ways. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, lethargy, seizures, coma, muscle twitching, blisters, rash and peeling skin. Immediate medical assistance is required.
Pulmonary Talcosis
Talc powder is a component used in some oral medications as a filler or lubricant. When these medications are dissolved and injected intravenously by drug abusers, serious pulmonary illness can occur, says William Clifford Roberts, M.D., in the July 2002 issue of the journal "Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings." Pulmonary talcosis, a serious lung disorder, is associated with injection of talc-containing tablets such as amphetamines, methylphenidate, methadone and propoxyphene. Symptoms are similar to those of emphysema---a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease---including progressively-worsening shortness of breath. Pulmonary talcosis can result in respiratory failure and death.
References
- MedlinePlus: Talcum Powder Poisoning
- American Cancer Society: Talcum Powder and Cancer
- "British Medical Journal"; Inhalation of Baby Powder: An Unappreciated Hazard; P.W. Pairaudeau et al.; 1991
- "Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings"; Pulmonary Talc Granulomas, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension Resulting From Intravenous Injection of Talc; William Clifford Roberts, M.D.; July 2002
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Household Products Database: Talc (Non-Fibrous)
