It’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week: Why Asbestos Awareness Still Matters

It was not until lawsuits and independent investigations exposed internal industry documents that the extent of the problem became fully apparent. A Reuters investigation in 2018 revealed that some well-known consumer brand’s had been aware of the potential for asbestos contamination in its talc products since at least the 1970s but did not disclose this information to consumers or regulators. Court documents showed that despite internal testing occasionally detecting asbestos in talc, the products continued to be marketed as safe (Girion, 2018).

Beyond talcum powder, asbestos contamination has appeared in a variety of cosmetic products, including certain makeup items such as face powders, eyeshadows, and blushes.

Investigations by consumer safety groups and regulatory agencies have found traces of asbestos in some imported cosmetics, raising alarms about ongoing exposure risks. Asbestos-contaminated talc has been identified in well-known brands, prompting recalls and lawsuits, yet regulations on talc-based cosmetics remain inconsistent globally.

The implications of asbestos-contaminated talc are profound. Unlike occupational exposure, where workers might inhale large quantities of asbestos over several years, talcum powder exposure could have involved daily, repeated inhalation over a lifetime. Women who regularly used talc-based powders would have unknowingly inhaled microscopic asbestos fibres, which could then lodge in the lungs or migrate to the pleura, where mesothelioma develops. Babies and children, often dusted with talcum powder, were also exposed.

This raises serious concerns about how many cases of asbestos-related disease in non-occupational settings have been misattributed.

Dr. Jacqueline Moline, a leading occupational medicine specialist, has studied this issue extensively. She co-authored a study in 2020 analysing 33 mesothelioma cases in individuals with no known occupational asbestos exposure. The study found that all of these individuals had used asbestos-contaminated talcum powder, suggesting a direct link between talc exposure and disease development (Moline et al., 2020).

“The fact that we are seeing mesothelioma in people who have no other known exposure to asbestos strongly suggests that these contaminated consumer products played a significant role,” Dr. Moline explained in a 2020 interview. “The latency period for mesothelioma is long—sometimes 40 or 50 years—so what we’re seeing now may just be the tip of the iceberg.”

Lawsuits brought by mesothelioma patients and their families have unearthed internal company documents showing that talc manufacturers knew about asbestos contamination but failed to warn the public. Companies are being ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages to plaintiffs who had developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after years of using talc products.

Such legal battles echoes the fight for asbestos recognition decades earlier when industrial workers sought accountability from asbestos manufacturers. The fact that many people exposed to contaminated talc are only now being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases highlights the ongoing nature of the crisis.

The UK still has a significant asbestos legacy, with asbestos-containing materials present in

schools, hospitals, and public buildings. While regulations prevent new asbestos use, existing materials remain a risk, particularly when disturbed during renovations or demolitions.

The revelation that asbestos exposure may have occurred through daily cosmetic product use, rather than just industrial exposure, underscores why continued asbestos awareness is crucial. There is a risk that complacency will set in now that asbestos is no longer actively used in construction. However, the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases means that many people exposed decades ago are only now receiving diagnoses. This is particularly true for victims of talcum powder exposure, many of whom had no idea they were at risk.

“The biggest challenge we face now is ensuring that those who were exposed in the past receive proper medical attention and support,” says Dr. Moline. “And just as importantly, we must prevent future exposure by holding companies accountable and demanding stricter regulations on talc and other potential sources of contamination.”

While scientific advancements in early detection and treatment offer some hope, prevention remains the most effective tool in the fight against asbestos-related diseases. The talcum powder revelations highlight how hidden sources of asbestos exposure can remain unaddressed for years—sometimes until it’s too late.

As Global Asbestos Awareness Week reminds us, asbestos is not just a relic of the past. It continues to pose serious risks, not only in old buildings but in unexpected places like cosmetic products. Asbestos-related diseases are entirely preventable, yet they still persist. By raising awareness and ensuring that all sources of exposure are properly investigated and addressed, we can work toward a future where asbestos no longer claims lives.

References

• Gordon, R. E. et al. (2014). “Asbestos in commercial cosmetic talcum powder as a cause of mesothelioma in women”. Int J Occup Environ Health, 20(4), 318–332.
• Girion, L. (2018). “Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder.” Reuters.
• Moline, J. et al. (2020). “Mesothelioma associated with the use of cosmetic talc”. J Occup Environ Med. 62(1),11-17.
• Rohl, A. et al. (1976). “Consumer talcums and powders: Mineral and chemical characterization.” Journal of toxicology and environmental health. 2. 255-84.