Today, the FDA released its testing results for talc-based cosmetics in a final report — and found the carcinogen asbestos in 9 of the 52 products that were tested, which is nearly 20%. 

AMA Analytical Services, Inc., the nation’s leading laboratory in matters of asbestos-contaminated talc, was contracted in September 2018 by FDA to test popular cosmetics products that contain talc as an ingredient.

The testing results are reported in 6 separate reports, found here. The screenshot above is taken from this report.

Asbestos ends up in makeup due to poor regulations involving cosmetic-grade talc. Talc and asbestos are minerals that form together, so talc mined for commercial uses can be contaminated with asbestos, which is a known cause of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Concern over the presence of asbestos in cosmetics, particularly those marketed toward children and that include talc as an ingredient, is growing among consumers and Congress, the EWG reports.

Scott Faber, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, EWG, says, “A .200 batting average in baseball is borderline bad, but it’s downright deplorable when it comes to asbestos in cosmetics. The results of FDA’s tests should be all the evidence needed for Congress to act quickly to pass legislation mandating all talc-based personal care products are rigorously tested and the cosmetics industry is required to put the public’s safety first.”

New Legislation?

Many talc-based cosmetics are marketed to children. Last year, Claire’s Stores recalled three makeup products that were found to contain asbestos. 

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, since even small amounts of exposure over a few days can cause mesothelioma, an incurable cancer, and other diseases many years later. From an analysis of federal mortality data, EWG Action Fund estimated that up to 15,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-triggered diseases.

Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell (D) has introduced legislation, The Children’s Product Warning Label Act, which would require all cosmetics marketed to children to contain a warning label that the product has not been evaluated for asbestos contamination. Or, the manufacturer of the product can attest in writing that its source is an asbestos free-mine — and that they demonstrate to FDA that the product is asbestos-free using the transmission electron microscopy method. 

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will soon mark up landmark legislation to modernize U.S. cosmetics regulations to safeguard consumers from potentially harmful products.

FDA plans to continue its talc testing program in 2020, with 50 cosmetics products collected and sent to AMA for analysis.

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