Document jNykXDqJvQjXJv5pQR4z6R6GO

FILE NAME: Talc (TALC) DATE: 1968 DOC#: TALC046 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Journal Article - Fibrous and Mineral Content of Cosmetic Talcum Products Fibrous and Mineral Content of Cosmetic Talcum Products American Industrial Hygienl Design L. J. CRALLEY, Ph.D., M. M. KEY. M.D., D. H. GROTH, M.D., W. S. LAINHART, M.D., and R. M. LIGO, M.D. Occupational Health'Program, National Center for Urban and Industrial Health 1014 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 In searching for sources of fibers ubiquitous to our everyday environment and of respirable size, the authors examined 22 talcum products commonly available on retail shelves and found fiber contents ranging from 8 to 30% by count, with an average of 19%. Fibrous particulates were generally under 1.0 /t in diameter with lengths ranging from 1.3 to 6.0 u From 0.3 to 3.0% quartz was found in 21 of the samples and the remaining sample had 54.4% quartz. The samples were also analyzed for metals; with four exceptions, the levels of cobalt, nickel, chromium and manganese were low. Further research will be needed to assess the significance of these findings. 11 1.4 12 25 1.3 13 26 1.7 14 28 1.3 15 28 1.9 16 12 1.2 17 13 1.7 18 16 0.4 19 18 1.0 20 16 1.2 21 25 3.3 22 14 0.5 M icrogram of metal per gj M illigram of element per . - n EPORTS OF FINDING p u lm o n ary age of respirable fibers and was a potential fibrous bodies, previously referred to as source of the ferruginous bodies observed in "asbestos" and now as "ferruginous" bodies, the lungs of humans. This observation led to Mg;iSi4Oi0. Talc mineral in the lungs of persons coming to autopsy in further study to characterize cosmetic talcum hydrothermal alteration off hospitals in a number of cities have recently products. tremolite or directly from! been increasing. The first report of these The major purpose of the investigation re altrabasic rocks. Talc may a; morphologically distinctive fibrous bodies in ported here was to develop and present data the thermal metarnorphism j the sputum and lungs of asbestos workers was on some of the constituents found in cosmetic mites.10"12 The characterise -M. made in 1906 by Marchand.1 Current inter talcum products and to discuss their health deposits vary widely from tj f'i est dates from 1963 when Thompson et al.2 aspects in the light of today's knowledge. It rnula and from each other `I found these fibrous bodies in the lungs in is not our intent to make a general appraisal mineralogy involved. Some i 26.4% of the autopsies in a series of examina of health factors in the use of talcum prod tain varying amounts of ti tions in Gape Town. Subsequent investiga ucts because of the many variables involved pyrophylite. or serpentine, o tions3"8 provide evidence that the occurrence and the limited data available on the con terial from which the talc of these bodies in the lungs of urban residents sumption of various "sources of talcs" in the The deposits may also us is not restricted to those in isolated localities formulation and use of cosmetic talcum prod amounts of metals such as ir and is not a onc-timc chance observation. ucts. The potential health aspects of some of chromium, and manganese tiv\?Ste.w&e't'na&f The identity of the fibrous core of these the data, however, are discussed. erais, as well as silica. Cos: coated bodies, however, was never determined Twenty-two cosmetic talcum products (re be basically pure talc or rn by the investigators. The fibers were routinely presenting body powder, bath powder, and all tion of talc with other mate: considered as asbestos bodies on the basis of purpose powder) purchased off-the-shelf, were chalk, stearates, etc. Zincf their morphological structure. analyzed for fibrous content, selected metals, gaese, and iron compound^ In searching for the sources of these ubiqui and quartz. The data and a discussion of their pigments and opacifiers. ` tous fibers, Cralley et al.9 reported that tal possible significance follow. The particle-size distribih cum powder contained a significant percent- age by count of fibers in th; Analysis of Talcum Products lates were determined by <5 cum in water, filtering the) Presented at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference May 13*17, 1968, St. Louis, Missouri, Talc is a natural mineral, hydrous magne sium silicate, with the general formula (OH)2- an "AA" membrane filter with a phase contrast m 350 Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) t of Cosmetic :s G R O T H , M .D ., A G O . M .D . ban and Industrial Health, 45202 sveryday environment and of iucts commonly available on to 30% by count, with an nder 1.0 l in diameter with nartz was found in 21 of the le samples were also analyzed el, chromium and manganese significance of these findings. A:merican Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 351 T able I Designated Analyses of Cosmetic Talcum Products I% ppm * mg/gm ## $$ Talcum % Free Product No. Fibers SiOs Co Cr Si Mn Zr t ; Zn Fe Mg Si At 3i 3 19 0.3 13 9 13 2 21 0.4 <10 <10 <10 16 23 <10 0.9 ND 20 >10 >10 0.5 5 10 >) 50 6 3 23 0.2 <10 <10 20 78 4 19 2.2 67 240 1270 55 0.3 ND ? 0.8 40 30 >1 5 40 I 5 30 0.6 <10 <10 14 <10 1) 0.2 ND S 5 6 ie 1.5 21 14 16 13 ** 0.1 15 51 60 7 14 2.1 ND <10 17 14 0.4 10 5 f 8 19 3.6 < 9 329 479 45 0.3 " 15 3 ! 9 21 53.4 <11 N D <10 14 20 20.0 ND 8 0.5 >100 10 11 8 0.9 25 <12 24 33 8 1.4 18 22 20 61 <10 30.0 40 12 >10 fi 30 20.0 10 50 }> 40 j 12 25 1.3 10 13 17 41 0.8 ND 10 }} 8 4 13 26 1.7 ND < 10 <10 19 " 0.8 10 it 10 14 28 1.3 <10 10 <10 26 ** 0.8 10 t) 15 - 15 28 1.9 <10 <10 16 24 0.3 ** 10 9 (j 16 12 1.2 <11 <11 16 62 " 10.0 " 20 15 17 13 1.7 <10 10 19 70 30 10.0 " 20 12 3 18 18 0.4 16 < 9 14 18 <10 0.5 5 15 40 i 19 18 1.0 < 10 <10 21 16 )) 0.7 ND 10 6 20 16 1.2 22 10 29 50 " 0.8 40 10 40 21 25 3.3 10 9 19 26 ** 0.6 5 10 10 22 14 0.5 14 1170 1210 84 0.3 ND 30 4 Microgram of metal per gram of sample. Milligram of element per gram of sample. pirable fibers and was a potential he ferruginous bodies observed in >[ humans. This observation led to dy to characterize cosmetic talcum Mg,iSi4O 10. Talc mineral is formed by the hydrothermal alteration of serpentine and tremolite or directly from unscrpentinized magnification. The percentage of free silica was determined by x-ray diffraction. Cobalt, chromium, nickel, and manganese were deter ultrabasic rocks. Talc may also be formed by mined by means of atomic absorption spectro jor purpose of the investigation re the thermal metamorphism of silicous dolo photometry. Zirconium, titanium, zinc, iron, e was to develop and present data ' the constituents found in cosmetic mites.10' 12 The characteristics of the mineral and magnesium were determined by means of i deposits vary widely from the pure talc for semi-quantitative emission spectrography. oducts and to discuss their health mula and from each other according to the Table I gives analytical data on 22 differ the light of today's knowledge. It mineralogy involved. Some deposits may con ent cosmetic talcum products. Figures 1 and intent to make a general appraisal tain varying amounts of tremolite, chrysotile, 2 are representative photomicrographs of two factors in the use of talcum prod- nyrophylite. or serpentine, or other basic ma talcum specimens showing the presence of se of the many variables involved terial from which the talc may be derived. fibers. mited data available on the con- The deposits may also contain varying of various "sources of talcs" in the amounts of metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, Size Distribution of Talcum Particulates in and use of cosmetic talcum prod- chromium, and manganese as associated min Seven of the twenty-two talcum products potential health aspects of some of erals, as well as silica. Cosmetic talcum may were selected for size-distribution measure lowever, are discussed. be basically pure talc or may be a formula ments of the fibrous and non-fibrous particu two cosmetic talcum products (re tion of talc with other materials such as clay, late components. body powder, bath powder, and all chalk, stearates, etc. Zinc, titanium, man The diameter of 80 to 95% of all the par iwder) purchased off-the-shelf, were ganese, and iron compounds may be added as ticulates in these samples was under 5.0 or fibrous content, selected metals, :. The data and a discussion of their pigments and opacifiers. microns (/z). The median of the diameter of piificance follow. 5r The particle-size distribution and percent the non-fibrous particulates in the seven prod age by count of fibers in the talcum particu ucts ranged from 0.7 to 2.0 ix, with a median f Talcum Produces lates were determined by dispersing the tal average around 1.0 ,u. j cum in water, filtering the mixture through A fiber is defined as a particulate having at a natural mineral, hydrous magne- I te, with the general formula (OH)2- | an "AA" membrane filter, and measuring least a 1:3 ratio of diameter to length. The with a phase contrast microscope at 430 fibrous particulates in the seven products were Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) 352 'i z July-August, 1968 American Industrial Hygiene The aluminum and silicas v, ability associated either with; cuie, or additives such as kaa material from which the talc v? Known Health Effects of Talc ] Much of our knowledge j effects of talc is derived from pational exposures in its mini) industrial use. In extrapolat edge to the cosmetic use of ta( must be recognized that the- posures in the use of talcum markedly from person to peri frequency of use but also in;; location. j z 1 Figure 1. Photomicrograph of talcum specimen J1 showing presence of fibers (430 X ri In contrast to industrial <1 the pattern is likely to be n with accompanying peaks, t use of cosmetic talcum prodqj mittent with peak exposures c exposure pattern may conti especially if the use of talnj' HJ generally under 1.0 x in diameter, with million by weight (ppm ), chromium under 22 ; : in the earlier years as a j lengths ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 x. ppm, nickel under 29 ppm, and manganese ; habits. The air-borne dosage The 22 talcum products analyzed showed under 78 ppm. Product No. 4 had a nickel J industrial exposures to talc tS fit fiber contents ranging from 8 to 30% by content of 1270 ppm; chromium 340 ppm; ; in injury to health were u t| count of the total talcum particulates with and cobalt, 67 ppm. Product No. 8 con- ;Jj higher, however, than woij an average of 19%. Although the specific tained 479 ppm nickel and 329 ppm chroini- i from the use of cosmetic talq fibrous materials were not identified, they urn. Product No. 22 contained 1210 ppm ; : were predominantly fibrous talc, as shown by nickel and 1170 ppm chromium. Qualitative ; ! Mining, Milling, and lndus\ x-ray diffraction, with the probable presence tests showed some of the chromium in the The. clinical entity of talcs in minor amounts of other fibrous minerals talcum products to be in the hexavalent state. "talcosis," has been observ^ such as tremolite, anthophylite, chrysotile, and The nickel, chromium, cobalt, and manganese . workers with long exposure |j pyrophyllite. in the talcum products may have come from ' ; ing, milling, and industrial The electron microscope, with its higher the talc mineral deposit10 or from the alloy t ierminally clubbed pulmonaj power of resolution, shows a number of sub metals of the pulverizing equipment used in ' both segmented and unsegmj micron diameter particulates not visible by reducing the talc.13 1 in morphology to ferrugin means of phase contrast microscopy. The zirconium content of the products was :! been found in talc workers, j had received a mixed expos .2, 4 Free. Silica all under 10 milligrams per gram (mg/gm) i molite, anthophyllite, and s| except for products Nos. 9 and 17, which had . | In 8 of the 22 talcum products (Table I), 20 and 30 mg/gm respectively. The titanium, 'i study20 the mortality rate it] the presence of quartz ranged from 0.3 to zinc, and iron ranged from a few tenths to 50 '' j lung and pleura was four tij J 1-0%; in 13 products, 1.2 to 3.0% quartz, mg/gm of talcum and were probably present group of talc workers thaij and in 1 product, 54.4% quartz. ' as pigments or opacifiers. The magnesium - population. In pulmonary q content of the products was over 10 m g/ tos, the role of fibers and ti Metals gm, except for product No. 9 which had (j certain. Some investigators] 'Vs only 0.5 mg/gm. The magnesium was prob- ; fibers play a dominant andj With the exception of talcum products Nos. ably present as an additive in the formulation ' recent investigations indical 4, 8, and 22 (liable I), the cobalt content of or as a part of the talc molecule or other i may have been only an ip the products analyzed was under 25 parts per amphiboles in the products. t spectrum of unidentified ( J tionship.13 j i J' 1= Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) July-August, 1968 \ Mr--;: St :omicrograph of talcum specimen of fibers 430 X ). t (ppm), chromium under 22 :!er 29 ppm, and manganese Product No. 4 had a nickel 1ppm; chromium 340 ppm; ppm. Product No. 8 con nickel and 329 ppm chromilo. 22 contained 1210 ppm ppm chromium. Qualitative ne of the chromium in the to be in the hexavalent state, mium, cobalt, and manganese oducts may have come from . deposit10 or from the alloy tlverizing equipment used in c.ls i content of the products was lligrams per gram (mg/gin) cts Nos. 9 and 17, which had n respectively. The titanium, nged from a few tenths to 50 n and were probably present opacifiers. The magnesium products was over 10 m g/ product No. 9 which had . The magnesium was probn additive in the formulation the talc molecule or other e products. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 353 The aluminum and silicas were in all prob Surgical and Cosmetic Use ability associated either with the talc mole cule, or additives such as kaolin, or the base material from which the talc was derived. The only reported cutaneous reactions from the use of talcum powder are talc granulomas, and these have been rare.21,22 Talcum pow Known Health Effects of Talc Much of our knowledge of the health effects of talc is derived from studies of occu pational exposures in its mining, milling, and industrial use. In extrapolating this knowl der, however, is no longer used on surgical gloves and should not be applied to broken skin. Occasionally, perfume oils used in tal cum powder formulations sensitize the skin and produce dermatitis.21,24 edge to the cosmetic use of talcum powder, it must be recognized that the pattern of ex posures in the use of talcum product varies markedly from person to person, not only in frequency of use but also in amount and in location. In contrast to industrial exposures where the pattern is likely to be more continuous with accompanying peaks, exposure in the uee of cosmetic talcum products is very inter . mittent with peak exposures dominating. The exposure pattern may continue a lifetime, especially if the use of talcum is established in the earlier years as a part of personal habits. The air-borne dosage to workers from industrial exposures to talc that have resulted in injury to health were undoubtedly much higher, however, than would be predicted from the use of cosmetic talcum products. Conclusions With the exception of 4 of the 22 cosmetic talcum products analyzed, the levels of free silica, cobalt, nickel, chromium, and man ganese were generally of a low magnitude and within a narrow range. It is not known whether the four products represent a signifi cant proportion of sales in the industry or to what extent the sources of the talc in these four formulations are the same as sources of talc specified for use in other talcum products in the competitive market. The levels of silica, chromium, and nickel in these four products are sufficiently high, however, to be of con cern in their potential to cause disease. All of the 22 talcum products analyzed have an appreciable fiber content, ranging Mining, Milling, and Industrial Use from 8 to 30% by count of the total talcum The clinical entity of talc pneumoconiosis, "fcalcosis," has been observed repeatedly in workers with long exposure to talc in its min ing, milling, and industrial use.14-17 Elongated, terminally clubbed pulmonary fibrous bodies, both segmented and unsegmented and similar in morphology to ferruginous bodies, have been found in talc workers, but these workers had received a mixed exposure--to talc, tremolite, anthophyllite, and silica.18'19 In one study20 the mortality rate from cancer of the lung and pleura was four times greater for a group of talc workers than for the general population. In pulmonary cancer from asbes tos, the role of fibers and trace metals is un certain. Some investigators have assumed the fibers play a dominant and direct role; more recent investigations indicate that the fibers may have been only an index concealing a spectrum of unidentified agents and rela tionship.13 particulates, and averaging 19%. The fibrous material was predominantly talc but probably contained minor amounts of tremolite, an thophyllite, and chrysotile as these are often present in fibrous talc mineral deposits. Cos metic talcum products should be included as a source of the fibers, from which may be derived ferruginous bodies observed in the lungs of humans. The meaning of the pres ence of these ferruginous bodies, however, is uncertain. Industry has the know-how to safely handle fibrous material as well as toxic metals such as nickel, chromium, cobalt, and manganese once adequate criteria have been established. Unknown significant amounts of such mate rials in products that may be used without precautions may create an unsuspected prob lem. For this reason continued research and investigations and communication of findings are necessary in this area. Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) ;\D f ,V=^ * -V-N4| ' - : Vi,, y8** r- '/: *rV -el* ft 354 ]uly-August, 1968 I Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge, with apprecia tion, the technical assistance of Harrold B. Norris who made the free silica determina tions; Patricia L. Maurer who made the atomic absorption spectrophotometric deter minations for nickel, cobalt, chromium, and manganese; John R. Carlberg who made the emission spectrographic determinations for zirconium, titanium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and aluminum; and Stephen Bayer and Ralph Zumwalde for the fiber determinations. References 1. M archand, F.: U ber Eigentmliche Pigmentkristalle in D tn Lungen. Yerh Dtsch Path. Ges. 10: 223 (1906). 2. T homson, J. G., R. O. C. K asciuia, and R . R. Mac Donald: Asbestosis as a Modern Urban Hazard. S. Afr. M ed. J . 37: 77 (Jan. 1963). 3. T ho m so n, J . G ., and W . M . G raves, J r.: Asbestos as an U iban Air Contaminant. Arch, of Path. 81: 458 (May 1966). 4. C aum a, D .. R . S. T otten, a n d P . Gr o ss: Asbestos Bodies in H um an Lungs at Autopsy. J. A m tr. Med. Assoc. 192: 371 (M ay 1965). 5. Webster, I.: Annual Report of the Pneumoconiosis Research U nit of the South African Council for Scien tific and Industrial Research. Johannesburg, South Africa (1965). ' 6. M eurman, Lauri: Asbestos Bodies and Pleural Plaques in a Finnish Series of Autopsy Cases. Acta Path. Microbiol. Scand., Supplementum 181 (1966). 7. A njilv el, L ., and W. M . T h u rlbecx: T h e Incidence of Asbestos Bodies in the Lungs at Random Neciopsies in Montreal. Canad. M ed. ssoc. J. 95: 1179 (Dec. 1965). 8. Cooper, W. C ., and I. T abershaw: T o be published. 9. Cralley, L. J ,, R. G . Keenan, J , R. Lynch, and f W. S. Lainhart: Source and Identification of Respira- I ble Fibers. A m tr. Indus. Hyg. Assoc. J. 29: 129 (M ar.- | Apr. 1968). f 10. Deer, W. A., R. A. H owie, and J . Zassman: Rock' f Forming Minerals. Voi. 3, Sheet Silicates, p. 126, John | . Wiley and Sons, Inc.,NewYork (1962). | 11 K irk, ^ R . E., and D. F. Othmer: Encyhpedia of | Chemical Technology. Vol. 13, p. 565, The Interscience | Publishers, Inc., New York (1954), 12. Ibid. Vol. 6, p. 357, (1965). _ | -- | Cralley, L. J ., R. G. K eenan, and J. R. Lynch: Exposure to Metals in the M anufacture of Asbestos f Textile Products. A m tr. Indus. Hyg. Assoc. }. 28: 452 S (1967). | 14. H ogue, W. L ., J r., and F. S. Mallettk: A Study of I Workers Exposed to Talc and O ther Dusting Compounds | in the Rubber Industry. J Indus. Hyg. cs* Toxicol. 3T t 359 (1949). I 15. Messite, J ., G. R eddin', and M . K lkixfeld: Pulmonary Talcosis, a Clinical and Environmental Study. AM A Arch. Indus. Health 20: 408 (1959). 16. Schepkrs, G. W, H.j and T . M. D urkan; The Effects % % of Inhaled Talc-Mining Dust on the Human Lung. AM A Arch. Indus. Health 12: 182 (1955). 17. Seci-er, A. O ., J. S. Gryboski, and H . E. Macmahon: Talc Pneumoconiosis. A M A Arch. Indus, Health 19: 392 (1959;. 18. K leinfeld, ML C. P. Giel, J. F. Majkranowski, and J. Messite: Talc Pneumoconiosis: A Report of Six Patients with Postmortem Findings. A M A Arch. En viron. H ealth 7: 101 (1963). .19. K ipling, M. D., and A. O . Bech : Talc Pneumoconio sis. Trans. Assoc. Indus. M ed. Officers 10: 85 (1960). 20 K lkinff.ld, M ., J. Messite, M. Zaki, and O. K ooyman: M ortality Among Talc Miners and Millers in New York State. AM A Arch. Environ. Health 14: 663 21 (1967). . L ichtman, A. L., J . R. M cDonald, C. F. D ixon, and F. C. Mann: Talc Granuloma. Surg. Gynec. & Obst. 83: 53i (1946). 22. T ye, M . J ., K . H ashimoto, and F. Fox: Talc Granu lomas of the Skin. / . Amer. M ed. /fu n . 198: 1370 (1966). Burks, J. W .: Dermatitis Due to Cosmetics. Southern M ed. J. 55: 1006 (1963). 24. Spoor, H . J .: Skin Reactions to Cosmetics: Classifica tions and Diagnosis. New York J. M ed. 0: 1940 (1960). Human Factors Association of Canada f| On June 1 a group of 29 people gathered in Toronto, Canada, and formed | the Human Factors Association of Canada. It is anticipated that the Associa- | tion will have membership throughout Canada and will represent interests of | the many disciplines concerned with man's functioning in his physical and | machine environments. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. j R. B. Bromiley, Vice-President, Dr. E. Llewellyn Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer, | Mr. Ronald E. F. Lewis. The following were named Directors: Dr. J. R. | Brown, Dr. A. C. Bryan, Dr. Ruth Hoyt and Mr. J. F. Martin. Correspondence j should be addressed to: Secretary-Treasurer, Human Factors Association of | Canada, c/o Defence Research Establishment Toronto, Box 2000 Downsview, | Ontario, Canada. | f Simultaneous B and Alpha Act Technical Division, (gf The conccntratio! are determined it spectrometry. The isl extracted with tri-n-qj analysis is obtained ij tions are --1% to rd Introduction Ur a n i u m a n d it s ITY in urine are usua, fluorophotometry1 and alp, spectively. Although an isd of the uranium can be esq two analyses, a direct, and: curate, determination of th sition, uranium concentratij tivity is obtained in a sin^ topic dilution3 and surfacj spectrometry (SIMS). ( The method of preparii the mass spectral analysis i of Whitson and Kwasnoski ing, except that a known added. Apparatus and Reagents The mass spectrometer i: insOr instrument with a ,,12-; magnetic sector, a surfaces including a rhenium iomt two tungsten sample filarn^ the source region, and a ! ment changer. The ionf through 6000 volts, and tnf netically scanned. The it measuring system includes) plier with 105 gain, a vibimeter with 100-megohm :n| I I Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) f