Talc is a naturally occurring mineral found in rock deposits. It’s composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Its composition makes it highly versatile, and it is mined for use in a wide variety of products. It’s a particularly common ingredient in personal care products.
Unfortunately, talc is often found in close proximity to another natural mineral, asbestos, which is a known toxin and has long been linked to cause cancer in those exposed to it.
Concerns for the possibility of cross-contamination of talc and asbestos stretch back to early studies completed in the 1960s and ’70s. Once the mineral is mined, talc is crushed into a fine powder and distributed across a wide variety of industries, one of which being personal hygiene products such as talcum powder (baby and adult body powder).