Pulmonary disease caused by the inhalation of cosmetic talcum powder

The inhalation of talc, a chemical compound of hydrous magnesium silicate, has long been known to cause pulmonary infiltrates (Porro and Levine, 1946; Messite, et al., 1959). As mined, and as used as a lubricant in the leather, rubber and paper industries talc contains considerable impurities including asbestos. Heavy exposure to this industrial grade talc produces radiological changes which include interstitial reticulo-nodular shadowing and pleural plaques (Fraser and Paré, 1970). Hildick-Smith (1976) in a recent review of the biology of talc points out that domestic talc does not contain impurities, and that people working with this pure talc do not develop pulmonary disease. Work with animals has also failed to show pulmonary disease even after massive exposures to domestic talc (Wagner et al., 1977).