Serous Ovarian Cancer Caused by Exposure to Asbestos and Fibrous Talc in Cosmetic Talc Powders—A Case Series
Objective:
Asbestos is a known cause of ovarian cancer. We report 10 cases of serous ovarian cancer among users of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) asbestos-containing “cosmetic” talc products.
Methods:
We conducted an asbestos exposure assessment during talc application and analyzed surgical tissues and talc containers for asbestos and talc.
Results:
Talc was found in all cases and tremolite and/or anthophyllite asbestos was found in 8/10 cases. The asbestos fibers found in the “cosmetic” talc containers matched those found in tissues. We estimated inhaled asbestos dose ranged from 0.38 to 5.18 fiber years.
Conclusion:
We provide evidence that the inhaled dose of asbestos/fibrous talc from “cosmetic” talc use causes ovarian cancer. The unique combination of the types of asbestiform minerals detected in cancerous tissue and “cosmetic” talc is a fingerprint for exposure to asbestos-containing talc.