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Asbestos in commercial indian talc
Sean Fitzgerald1, Elizabeth Harty2, Tushar Kant Joshi3
1Scientific Analytical Institute, Greensboro, North Carolina.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|March 28, 2019
Summary
Commercial Indian talc products, widely used in Southeast Asia, were found to contain tremolite asbestos. This contamination poses a significant public health risk for asbestos-related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Mineralogy
Background:
- Commercial Indian talc products are widely used in Southeast Asia.
- Talc contaminated with asbestos poses risks for asbestos-related diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine easily available commercial Indian talc products for the presence of asbestos.
- To assess the potential public health risks associated with asbestos-contaminated talc.
Main Methods:
- Polarizing light microscopy
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- Electron diffraction
- X-ray analysis were used to examine talc products.
Main Results:
- One of the first five Indian talc products tested contained tremolite asbestos.
- Six of the next eight Indian talc products tested also contained tremolite asbestos.
- No other regulated amphibole asbestos was detected.
Conclusions:
- Widespread use of asbestos-contaminated talc in Southeast Asia presents a public health risk, particularly for asbestos-related cancers.
- Further investigation is needed to quantify the public health risks.
- The country of origin for the talc used in these products requires further investigation.
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