Document x1qErg37Vm3EVyzMjgQ1w0q00

FILE NAME: Talc (TALC) DATE: 1972 June 7 DOC#: TALC071 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter to US House of Representatives from the FDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION. AND PUBLIC HEALTH SEHViCL TOD AND OPUO A D M IN ISTR A TIO N R O C K V IL L E M A R Y L A N D 20bb2 WELFAR! Honorable Paul 5. Sarbanes House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Oear Mr. Sarbanes: This is in further reply to your le tte r of A p ril 19 to the A ssista n t Secretary for L e g isla tio n of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare concerning asbestos-containing products. The Food and Drug Adm inistration is aware of the recent concern over the presence of asbestos-fora p a rtic le s in talc which may be used in food products. Since there is some d if f ic u lt y in id e n tify in g asbestos in ta ic because of th e ir chemical s im ila r it y , we are now in the process of evaluating the a va ilab le a n alytic procedures fo r deteraination of asbestos in talc. However, in the meantime we are moving ahead with a n alysis of products containing ta lc, with e x istin g methodology, for the presence o f asbestos-fora p a rtic le s. We are attempting to determine tha degree of exposure by the average consumer to products containing these substances. We are also preparing a d raft for a proposed provisional regulation for the use in foods of ta lc which is free of asbestos-form p a rtic le s. Funds for animal studies on the to xic o lo g ic a l effects of ta lc have not been availab le. A memorandum of need is being developed to j u s t if y the needed funds for contract feeding studies on s ilic a t e s , including talc. tho RnrMii of Product Safety of the Food aria Drug Adm inistration has ne cono ?jb i e c aul has a* the present' time no sp e c ific regulatory actions underlay PxrP,r +ne o r o n ib it io n o1 use o f asbestos as a component of genera, : " P ^ r m e n t i ' We are continuing to explore the p o s s i b i l i t y O T ;-a * a frost the. uses of asb es to s-containing products in the home a.io _ -lAth'.od'r fo r control of such hazards as are discovered, in c lu d in g -ur' consicie ^ti un la b e lin g , construction c r i t e r i a such as rpsin-ounu;ng and i f i t sh ie ld become necessary, banning sp e c ific as yet unid eriiifie products, to control likelihood of release of airborne t.beit o asbestos. Thanr you for your interest, further assistance. Please le t us know i f we can be c f Sincerely yours Gerald F. Meyer, Direc _ Office of Legislative Services