Abstract
A pilot study was undertaken to characterize the concentration, duration and particle size distribution of the talc cloud that forms in the personal breathing zone (PBZ) during application of certain talc-containing cosmetics. Multiple direct-reading instruments were employed to simultaneously monitor PM4 concentrations (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 4 µm; mg/m3) at different distances from each of three subjects while they applied talc products. Results indicated that the purpose and method of applying the talc product, combined with behavioral and physical differences amongst subjects, all strongly influenced airborne talc concentrations and the duration of the cloud. Air concentrations of talc in the PBZ averaged around 1.0 mg/m3, and the duration of exposure varied from less than one minute to more than ten minutes. The real-time monitors captured the occasional formation of secondary clouds, likely caused by resuspension of talc particles from skin or other surfaces. Measurements of aerosolized baby powder, face powder, and two adult body powders indicated that the median aerodynamic diameter of the talc cloud ranged from 1.7 to 2.0 µm. These direct-reading approaches were valuable for providing detailed characterization of short duration exposures to airborne talc particles, and will be useful to support future exposure assessments of talc and other powders in consumer products.
Highlights
Powdered talc is commonly used as the principal ingredient in baby, body and face powder products
Measurements of airborne particle size distribution for the talc products used in the present study indicated that median aerodynamic diameter ranged from 1.7 to 2.0 μm depending on the product (Table 2)
Measurements of particle size distribution (Table 2 and Figures S1 and S2) indicated that while all of the particles in the airborne talc cloud were within the thoracic size fraction of inhalable particles (PM10 ), the majority of the particles were within the respirable size fraction (PM4 ); the median values of all studied products fell within the subset of particles known as the fine fraction (PM2.5 )
Summary
Powdered talc (hydrous magnesium silicate) is commonly used as the principal ingredient in baby, body and face powder products. Talc used in cosmetics (cosmetic grade talc) should be free of asbestos and not contain any detectable fibrous amphibole or free crystalline silica [1,2]. Concern remains about the potential risk of inhaling insoluble respirable talc particles during the application of talc-containing cosmetics, based on evidence of non-neoplastic pulmonary lesions found in studies conducted with rats and mice chronically exposed to cosmetic grade non-asbestiform talc [3]. Several studies over the past four decades have used a variety of approaches to quantify air concentrations of talc particles during the use of cosmetic talc products. Public Health 2019, 16, 3830; doi:10.3390/ijerph16203830 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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