WHO Classifies Talc With Asbestos as Carcinogenic to Humans in Updated Report

The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently said that talc that contains asbestos is far more likely to cause cancer

Thursday, July 10, 2025 - The World Health Organization's cancer research department has released a new classification of talc that contains asbestos, calling the mixture "carcinogenic to humans." The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a new report that backs up what numerous lawsuits and studies have said for years: talc that has asbestos in it can cause diseases that can kill you. The IARC's new assessment is based on years of global epidemiological data and lab investigations that show a relationship between asbestos fibers in talc and mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Talcum powder ovarian cancer lawyers claim that this classification makes it easier for people to sue companies that didn't do a good job of screening for or disclosing asbestos contamination. In cases of talcum powder cancer, the people who are suing often say they were unintentionally exposed to a dangerous product that was sold as safe for everyday usage for years. The IARC's new stance, which doesn't ban the product, sends a strong statement about how dangerous contamination is and might have a big effect on how laws are made, how products are labeled, and how legal techniques are used in many places.

The new IARC classification, which can be found in Volume 134 of the agency's monograph series, makes a distinction between pure talc and talc that has asbestos in it. The research says that talc that has "asbestiform fibers" in it should be considered a Group 1 carcinogen. This is the greatest level of cancer risk for people. The World Health Organization stressed that their study looked at both work-related exposures and the usage of consumer products. The study cites studies that show a link between talc contaminated with asbestos and a higher risk of mesothelioma in industrial workers and ovarian cancer in people who use personal care products for a long time. The results are similar to what the FDA and other researchers found when they randomly sampled commercial talcum powders and found asbestos. The EPA also said that it is hard to keep asbestos out of talc because the two minerals naturally occur together in the ground. The IARC said that the ways we test for asbestos fibers need to be the same across the board and more sensitive so that we can find low levels of contamination. Now, public health groups are asking cosmetic and drug businesses to change the way they make their goods or use more strict testing methods. Talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits are likely to use the IARC update as strong evidence, especially in cases where the question is whether producers could have reasonably known about the hazards. Some people are also pushing for warning labels and new international standards that make the difference between cosmetic-grade talc and talc mined from areas where asbestos is also found apparent. The IARC's new categorization could change the way people all over the world talk about the safety of talc. It supports the scientific consensus that talc that has been contaminated with asbestos is very dangerous to health and that current safety measures have not always been enough.

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