Factory Workers Who Are Exposed To Talc On The Job Have A Higher Risk Of Getting Sick
New research and lawsuits show that workers who are around talc in factories are more likely to get cancer and lung problems
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Health and legal experts are paying more attention to the dangers of long-term exposure to talcum powder in factories. More and more research shows that factory workers are at higher risk of getting sick from breathing in talc. Workers in industries including ceramics, plastics, rubber, paper, and cosmetics may breathe in a lot of talc dust over the course of months or years. When people use talc, they usually only come into contact with small amounts of it at a time. But in these situations, people often handle large amounts of talc all the time, sometimes in places that aren't well-ventilated. This long-term exposure has been a major point of contention in more and more talcum powder mesothelioma lawsuits, where the plaintiffs say they were never told about the health dangers that came with their jobs. A mesothelioma lawyer for former factory workers who got cancer from talcum powder believes the risk is even higher because many factories don't have enough respiratory protection, training, or product hazard labels. Some workers who were diagnosed with cancer said they were also using talc products at home, which unwittingly increased their exposure at work and at home. These dual-exposure claims are showing up more and more in court. Lawyers say that both employers and manufacturers didn't tell workers about the recognized risks of working with industrial talc.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says that working with talc for a long time can cause a number of major health problems, such as lung illness, fibrosis, and cancer. It is especially worrying that talc could be contaminated with asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in the same geological strata. Asbestos is a proven cancer-causing substance, and even small levels of it in talc-based items can be very bad for your health if you breathe it in repeatedly. NIOSH has shown that workers in talc mining and milling activities, as well as in companies that use a lot of talc, have health problems. These results have led to recommendations for tougher working norms, such as better ventilation, regular air monitoring, required protective gear, and clearer communication about hazards. At the same time, cases of talcum powder cancer that involve work exposure are putting more pressure on regulatory agencies to review current safety rules and how they are enforced. Lawyers working on these claims are using internal safety reports, medical records, and testimony from industrial hygienists to prove that firms either knew or should have known about the risks of being around talc. Some companies and manufacturers are starting to look at their safety rules and look into using different materials that are less dangerous for workers as the lawsuits grow. As more people realize that workplace exposure is a major health risk, the way that the legal and health sectors deal with talc-related illnesses in all industries is changing.
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