It's been pretty well accepted for a number of years that the hormonal effects of estrogen have led to endometrial cancer in women,'' says Bill Jameson, head of the ''Report on Carcinogens'' group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Oral contraceptives also contain varying amounts of estrogen, but recent studies show they do not increase breast cancer risk. In fact, research has shown the pill to protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer. Though no public comments have been submitted about steroidal estrogen, many U.S. and European trade groups have voiced opposition to listing talc as a carcinogen.
Research suggests that talcum powder used in feminine hygiene increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
Other studies have linked talc with lung cancer in workers who mine and process it. Just because a substance is listed in the report does not necessarily mean that people should stop using it, Jameson says. The report only identifies substances that could be health hazards, he explains. Congress ordered the carcinogens report, RoC for short, in 1978. Dioxin, asbestos, second-hand smoke and alcohol consumption already are listed as human carcinogens.