Is Johnson's Medicated Baby Powder Bad for You

March 09, 2022 Post a Comment

Baby pulverization is equally mutual every bit diapers. But is it really safe?

Leading baby pulverisation manufacturer Johnson & Johnson appear Tuesday that it would voluntarily discontinue sales of talc-based baby pulverisation in the United States and Canada to focus on products with a higher priority during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Demand for talc-based Johnson'south Babe Powder in N America has been declining due in big part to changes in consumer habits and fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant avalanche of litigation advertising,'' the company said in a statement.

This comes months after the company was ordered by a New Jersey jury to pay $750 million to 4 plaintiffs — a fine reduced to $186 million past a judge — in a lawsuit where plaintiffs alleged baby powder acquired their cancer, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported. The ruling was the latest in the thousands of lawsuits that alleged infant powder use led to ovarian cancer.

"We believe the jury in their verdict was speaking straight to (Johnson & Johnson) CEO (Alex) Gorsky, who testified during the trial," said Chris Placitella from Cohen, Placitella and Roth, the plaintiff'south firm, in a statement. "We hope this verdict volition have a positive impact on public health going forrad."

Johnson & Johnson has repeatedly emphasized the safety of its talc-based products. In the months following an October recall of a batch of baby powder revealed to have chrysotile asbestos, the company released multiplestatements confirming no asbestos in their product.

Baby powder safety concerns take received such public scrutiny that the Nutrient and Drug Administration held a hearing in Feb on the testing of asbestos in talc, the master ingredient in the Johnson & Johnson brand of infant powder.

It's the showtime time since 1971 that the FDA has evaluated regulations surrounding the testing of asbestos in talc in a public hearing.

Hither are some answers to common questions about talc products:

What is talc and what is it used for?

Talc is a naturally occurring silicate mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen, per the FDA. It'due south known equally the softest mineral known to man.

It is similar in structure to asbestos, and the two are oft found together in mines.

The Corrective, Toiletry and Fragrance Clan says there are two different forms of it: industrial talc, which is often used in automotive plastics and rubber, and cosmetic talc.

Cosmetic talc has been widely used in baby pulverization. Information technology's also used in cosmetics such as heart shadow, blush and foundation to absorb moisture, make makeup opaque and meliorate a production's feel, per the FDA.

Do studies link baby powder and cancer?

That remains unclear.

Findings as far back every bit the early on 1970s accept tied talc-based babe pulverisation to ovarian cancer, according to the FDA. Recent reports from Reuters and the peer-reviewed journal Epidemiology have found that historical concerns over talc and ovarian cancer were downplayed by industry groups.

A comprehensive written report of 250,000 women led by the U.S. government and published in January in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) constitute no strong bear witness of a link between babe powder and ovarian cancer. The report, however, did not differentiate between talc-based baby powder and other baby powders that were made with alternatives such every bit cornstarch.

The American Cancer Society notes that other studies, using a different method from the JAMA study, have constitute "a small increase in chance" for ovarian cancer when women apply talc pulverization to their genitals.

Meanwhile, the International Bureau for Inquiry on Cancer – which is part of the World Health Organization – has classified talc as possibly carcinogenic.

A study published in October also found that contaminated talc has links to mesothelioma, a rare cancer that's usually linked to asbestos.

What virtually talc in makeup?

Again, information technology depends. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics designates talc in its "Red Listing" of things to avoid in blush, heart shadow and face powder, citing the possible risks of babe pulverization for women.

Further, some talc contaminated with asbestos was found in makeup targeted at children and tweens. In 2019, a bill was introduced past Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., that would crave all cosmetics targeting children undergo stricter testing or else have a warning label.

The Ecology Working Group says that talc-based cosmetics can be harmful, noting that contaminated talc can crusade health risks long later on its employ. However, skincare and cosmetics brand Paula'south Choice, which says that talc in makeup "does non present a health hazard."

But it may not matter, anyway. Cosmetic chemist Victor Casale, who previously worked for MAC Cosmetics, told Byrdie that he changed the formula for a popular pulverization foundation for artful reasons, not safe ones. The "dry" wait talc-based cosmetics provide, he said, is no longer in line with electric current trends in makeup.

How is talc currently regulated?

Federal regulations on talc are relatively lax. Nether the Food Drug and Cosmetic Deed, per the FDA, most cosmetics made with talc practice not have to be tested or approved past the FDA. They also practice not require manufacturers to disclose safety information.

Current guidelines land that talc cannot take more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of lead and 3 parts per meg of arsenic.

Crucially, they besides cannot require manufacturers and retailers to recall products. The recall issued by Johnson and Johnson of its baby powder in Oct was a "voluntary recall," pregnant that it was of the visitor's own accord.

"Rather than require a alarm or take other steps to reduce the run a risk that products fabricated with talc could contain asbestos, FDA instead adopted the honor system that permits companies to use tools that do not find all asbestos fibers and which proceed to put consumers at risk," said Scott Faber, EWG'due south senior vice president for government affairs.

Faber was present at the February FDA hearing.

Is it safe to apply baby powder on babies?

Opposite to its characterization, pediatricians suggest parents not to utilize babe powder – whether it's made with talc or not – for children and infants.

The American Association of Pediatrics recommends against using baby powder, period. Per the organization'southward Scarlet Book, its reference guide to pediatric diseases, "parents should not use talc-containing products for baby and kid care."

It may cause pneumoconiosis, a lung affliction caused by the inhalation of dust – which the AAP notes may happen if a baby powder container accidentally spills.

Amid concerns:Why practise we fifty-fifty accept babe pulverization anymore?

If powder is used to prevent diaper rash, nonetheless, pediatricians suggest using it every bit far from a baby as possible.

"Use equally footling as possible, probably put it on your easily and transfer to the diaper expanse or gently sprinkle to the diaper area," said Mayo Clinic pediatrician David Soma.

Contributing: Charisse Jones, Cara Kelly and Mary Bowerman, Usa TODAY