TALC
Abrasive; Absorbent; Anticaking Agent; Bulking Agent; Opacifying Agent; Skin Protectant;Slip Modifier; SKIN PROTECTING
Also listed as
COSMETIC TALC; FRENCH CHALK; TALC (MG3H2 (SIO3) 4) ; AGALITE; ASBESTINE; B 13; B 13 (MINERAL) ; B 13 (MINERAL) ; B 9; B 9 (TALC) ; BEAVER WHITE 200
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
 | Contamination concerns - ASBESTIFORM FIBERS |
 | Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Occupational hazards |
 | Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps |
|
See products containing TALC | |
About TALC: See Reported Ingredient Functions-The Cosmetic Drug Distinction, in Regulatoryand Ingredient Use Information, Volume I, Part A.
TALC has reported used in the following product types: eye shadow (713); foundation (504); facial powder (311); blush (238); sunscreen: makeup (154); concealer (151); bronzer/highlighter (140); antiperspirant/deodorant (96); eye liner (95); mascara (94)
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 3,792 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | TALC | • GRAS (generally recognized as safe) - use in food presumed safe based either on a history of use before 1958 or on published scientific evidence; need not be approved by the FDA prior to use in food; most have not limit for use but must conform to good manufacturing practices; some GRAS substances have quantitative limit for use in foods; by definition under Sec 201(s) of FD&C Act, not food additives - CFR182.2437 (magnesium silicate) |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | TALC | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | TALC (CONTAINING NO ASBESTOS) | •Fibrogenic - Inducing tissue injury and fibrosis (scarring): Yes; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 2 mg/m3, respirable fraction; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 1000 mg/m3; |
| A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases | TALC | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | TALC (MG3H2(SIO3)4) | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | TALC, NONASBESTIFORM | • o |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | TALC | • o |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | TALC | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | TALC | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | TALC | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | TALC | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html, Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V.A., and P. Lazar, eds., New York, Academic Press, Inc. 1977 -,127,1977 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
All rights reserved.
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