NIOSH Looks Into Beauty Industry Worker Exposure To Talc On The Job

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is looking into the health impacts of long-term exposure to talc on salon and spa workers

Monday, July 7, 2025 - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is doing a thorough study of the possible long-term health concerns that beauty industry workers who are exposed to talcum powder may experience. This program is aimed at salon and spa workers who use talc-based products on a daily basis for services like makeup application, body powdering, waxing, and facials. NIOSH officials said the study is needed since there aren't any exposure requirements for certain industries and more workers are being diagnosed with respiratory problems and cancer. Talcum powder cancer lawyers, who work for both consumers and professionals, believe that a lot of people in the beauty industry have been exposed to the powder for a long time without being alerted or protected. In a number of talcum powder cancer lawsuits, the plaintiffs say they were unintentionally exposed to a lot of talc particles in the air while working in poorly ventilated places for years. Occupational exposure is different from occasional consumer usage since it happens every day, frequently without protective gear or warnings from employers or product makers. These lawsuits show that more people are becoming aware of the concerns of talc that go beyond the house and into the workplace, where most of the workers are women and are often not well-represented in occupational health research.

NIOSH has said that the study will look at the air quality in salons, do medical checks on salon personnel, and look at the types and amounts of talc-containing products that are used on customers. The study's goals are to measure the amounts of talc exposure and look into whether long-term exposure to talc at work is linked to the development of respiratory disorders, fibrotic lung problems, and other types of cancer. Early results suggest that beauty salon workers may be at higher risk since they operate in small, enclosed rooms, use the same products over and again, and there are no industry-wide safety rules. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is NIOSH's parent organization, has already said that breathing in talc dust that has asbestos in it can be harmful. Not all talc has asbestos in it, but natural deposits can make it contaminated. Right now, the cosmetics industry doesn't have to test every batch of products. Health officials also say that many salon workers, especially independent contractors or immigrants, may not have proper training in health and safety or be able to use occupational health services. People who care about public health think that the NIOSH study may be used to make safety standards better, such as requiring better labeling, personal protective equipment, and ventilation in beauty industry facilities. At the same time, lawyers for people who have cancer from talcum powder are utilizing the NIOSH investigation to strengthen their claims and push for more employer responsibility in cases where workers were very sick after being around talc for a long time.

Information provided by TalcumPowderCancerLawsuit.com, a website devoted to providing news about talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits, as well as medical research and findings.