Two products used by almost everyone have been classified as "carcinogenic". WHO warning
Talc has been classified as a "probably carcinogenic" product by a World Health Organization (WHO) cancer research agency, which has also classified acrylonitrile, a compound used in the production of polymers as a "carcinogen".
Experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meeting in the French city of Lyon, published the results of their studies in The Lancet Oncology on July 5th.
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They classified talc, a natural mineral extracted from many regions of the world, as "probably carcinogenic" to humans, given, in particular, a combination of limited evidence of cancer seen in humans (ovarian cancer) and sufficient evidence seen in laboratory animals.
According to these researchers, exposure occurs mainly at work during extraction, grinding and processing of talc or during the manufacture of products containing it.
In the general population, exposure is mainly produced by the use of cosmetic products and body powders containing talc.
However, experts do not rule out certain distortions in studies that have shown an increase in cancer incidence. Although the assessment focused on asbestos-free talc, asbestos contamination of talc could not be ruled out in most studies on people exposed to talc, they said.
In June, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) reached a definitive agreement with the justice court from 42 U.S. Federal States in a lawsuit that targeted its talc powder, which was accused of causing multiple cancer cases.
A summary of the studies, published in January 2020 and involving 250,000 women in the United States, found no statistical link between the use of talc powder on the genitals and the risk of ovarian cancer.
Acrylonitrile is used in fibers for clothes and plastics
In 1970, concerns were raised about the contamination of talc with asbestos, which is often found in close proximity to the minerals used to produce talc. Studies then indicated a higher risk of ovarian cancer among women who used talc products.
The WHO agency also classified acrylonitrile, a volatile organic compound, mainly used in the production of polymers, as a "carcinogen" for humans.
This decision is based on "sufficient evidence of lung cancer" and "limited" evidence of bladder cancer in humans, according to IARC.
Those polymers are used in fibers for clothing, carpets, plastics for consumer products and automotive parts.
Acrylonitrile is also present in cigarette smoke. Air pollution is another source of exposure.
