Can your regular talcum powder cause cancer? Here's what WHO's agency has to say

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Key Points

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has announced findings suggesting a potential link between talc and ovarian cancer..

Talc, a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in products like talcum baby powder, has been the focus of the IARC's investigation..

While most individuals are exposed to talc through consumer products such as baby powder and cosmetics, the agency highlighted that the most significant exposure occurs during the mining, processing, or manufacturing of talc-based items...

Numerous studies examined by the IARC have consistently indicated a higher incidence of ovarian cancer among women who use talc in the genital area..

He emphasised that the agency's assessment primarily focuses on the potential of a substance to cause cancer under specific conditions, rather than definitively proving a causal link.. Recently, pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson reached a $700 million settlement regarding allegations of deceptive marketing of its talc-based products..