It's Official: WHO Warns Talc Is 'Probably Carcinogenic' For Humans
What did the WHO's cancer agency classify talc as?
The World Health Organization's cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified talc as "probably carcinogenic" for humans. This decision was based on limited evidence of talc causing ovarian cancer in humans, sufficient evidence linking it to cancer in rats, and strong mechanistic evidence of carcinogenic signs in human cells5. However, the IARC could not fully establish a causal role for talc, and contamination of talc with asbestos could not be ruled out in most studies.
On what evidence did IARC base talc's carcinogenic classification?
What are the common uses of talc according to the IARC?
According to the IARC, talc is commonly used in the form of baby powder or cosmetics. It is also used in plastics, ceramics, paint, paper, roofing materials, rubber products, animal feed, food, fertilizers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals4. Additionally, talc is used in clinical settings for pleurodesis.