US EPA

3541039 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Asbestos contaminated talc as a cause of mesotheliomas in women 

Gordon, RE 

2014 

Yes 

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
ISSN: 1073-449X
EISSN: 1535-4970 

AMER THORACIC SOC 

NEW YORK 

189 

A5224 

English 

WOS:000209838204708 

It has been shown that asbestos exposure is the primary, if not only causative agent in the development of pleural mesotheliomas. It has also been shown that asbestos may cause or contribute along with talc in the development of ovarian carcinomas, fallopian tube tumors and peritoneal mesotheliomas as well as lung tumors. It is the intent here to show that these 7 women using only talcum powder, particularly Cashmere Bouquet brand, with its contamination by asbestos is the causative factor in the development of both pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas. The mesotheliomas of the 7 women who have had no other source of asbestos exposure except Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder could not be classified as idiopathic.

Approximately 50 containers of Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder, some sealed and some not, from a variety of sources, including Colgate, produced over a long period were tested for the presence of asbestos by analytic electron microscopy. In all instances 0.01 gms of talc was placed in suspension in 1mL distilled water and 10uL samples placed on formvar coated grids, allowed to dry and asbestos fibers were then counted and the type fiber identified and documented by EDS and SAED. Of the 7 women studied, one woman has died and was autopsied and her lung and lymph nodes tested for the presence of asbestos. In the case of the lung and lymph node tissue from autopsy, the tissue was digested, centrifuged and cleared of KOH and digested biologic material in distilled water and then 10 uL samples were placed to dry on formvar coated nickel grids.

It was determined that there were varying amounts of asbestos contained in the talcum powder. Tremolite, anthophyllite and chrysotile types of asbestos were identified with anthophyllite type being the most prevalent. It was also determined that the lungs and lymph nodes of the patients also contained substantial amounts of tremolite and anthophyllite along with asbestos bodies with the core fibers of the same types of asbestos. These results have been corraborated in 2 other labs. There was also a lot of talc, both fibrous and platy, found in her lungs and lymph nodes.

It was then concluded that the mesotheliomas were caused by the asbestos or possibly the combination of the asbestos and talc. It is products such as Cashmere Bouquet Talcum powder that is the source of what has previously been termed idiopathic mesotheliomas. 

American Thoracic Society 2014 International Conference 

May 16-21, 2014 

San Diego, CA