Document rB7egkYM5oJeZgwaZkJRz0q9v

BACKGROUND BRIEFING PAPER tor PRESS and CONSUMER RESPONSE The amount of asbestos fibers in talcum powder products, and the inhalai:.! health hazards associated with their presence, are subjects of current interest but differing reports. At a symposium held on August 3 the Food and Drug Administration of 40 scientists, physicians and consumers, it was generally agreed tnat most I .. tilcum powders of major manufacturers are relatively free of asbestos. Nevertheless, on behalf of consumers, FDA is working on the details of a laboratory procedure for the analyses of asbestos in talcum, powaers wnicl 'i - . will give, consistent meaningful results. i- ' .. Accurate analyses for the amount of asbestos in talcum powder will be obtainable, according to many of the. participants, only througn tne iwe of a. battery of specialised instruments and techniques, including X-iay diffraction, polarizing optical microscopy, electron microscopy, ^nd electron diffraction of selected particles. In addition to extensive discussions of the analytical methods foi ashes used by various laboratories, tho group also considered s uc k topic-- as t medical significance of asbestos and other fibers, and the mineralogy of asbestos find talc ore deposits. (b) (5) .~ BACKGROUND BRIEFING PAPER for PRESS and CONSUMER RESPONSE The amount of asbestos fibers in talcum powder products, and. the inha lat hes 1th hazards associated with their presence, are subjects of current interest but differing reports. At a symposium held on August 3 the Food and Drug Administration of 40 ., v scientists,' p"hy'sicians* and consumers, it was generally agreed that most i talcum powders of major manufacturers are relatively free of asbestos. Nevertheless, on behalf cf consumers, FDA is working on the details of a laboratory procedure for the analyses of asbestos in talcum powders which will give, consistent meaningful results. Accurate analyses for the amount of asbestos in talcum powder will be obtainable, according to many of the participants, only through the use of a battery of specialized instruments and techniques, including X-ray diffraction, polarizing optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and electron diffraction of selected particles. In addition to extensive discussions of the analytical methods for asbes used by various laboratories, the group also considered such topics as t medical significance of asbestos and other fibers, and the mineralogy of asbestos And talc ore deposits. . (b) (5)