The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that they completed testing on a number of different types of cosmetics that contain talc, responding to inquiries from the general public about the presence of asbestos in those products.

According to an article posted on Cosmetic Designs.com, the FDA tested a total of 34 cosmetic products including foundation, blush, face powder, eye shadow, and body powder. The products were made by a variety of companies and were all purchased from retail stores in the Washington D.C. area.

Talc is generally used as an ingredient in cosmetics for a number of reasons, including the absorption of moisture, to prevent caking, to make a product feel silky, or to make facial makeup more opaque, the article points out. The contamination of talc with asbestos, says the FDA, has been a concern since the 1970s.

Both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals. Asbestos has been definitely connected to cancers such as mesothelioma. The jury is still out on whether or not talc is also a carcinogen though talc miners have demonstrated a higher rate of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses then the general public.

The FDA reports that AMA Analytical Services carried out the testing, analyzing the samples three times using methods that included polarized light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, both suggested by the New York State Department of Health, Environmental Laboratory Approval Program.

The results showed no asbestos fibers. However, the FDA notes that the results were “limited”, particularly due to the fact that only four talc suppliers submitted samples, they say.

“While the FDA finds these results informative, they do not prove that most or all talc or talc-containing cosmetic products currently marketed in the United States are likely to be free of asbestos contamination,” the report said. “We will continue to monitor for new information and take appropriate actions to protect the public health.”

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