Indian Journal of Respiratory Care

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VOLUME 8 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2019 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

The Effect of Cosmetic Talc Powder on Health

Khaled Ali Al Awam, Saumy Johnson, Afaf Alonazi, Amjad Abo Aleeh, Afnan Aldhamen, Anwar Alhaddad, Salma Alnouf, Faten Almutairi, Rawan Zila, Reema Algoud, Dania Alghurab, Mona Alsayegh, Batool Alnakli

Keywords : Pleurodesis, pulmonary diseases, talc powder

Citation Information : Al Awam KA, Johnson S, Alonazi A, Aleeh AA, Aldhamen A, Alhaddad A, Alnouf S, Almutairi F, Zila R, Algoud R, Alghurab D, Alsayegh M, Alnakli B. The Effect of Cosmetic Talc Powder on Health. Indian J Respir Care 2019; 8 (1):18-21.

DOI: 10.4103/ijrc.ijrc_24_18

License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Published Online: 05-12-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2019; Indian Journal of Respiratory Care.


Abstract

Talc powder is widely used for different purposes worldwide. Effects of talc on the human health is a concern as it has many chemical components. This review is an attempt to present the relevant researches in this field and to summarize the current updates about the topic. Talcum powder exposure has been shown to be a reason in the development of mesotheliomas and carcinoma of the lung in women. Regular cosmetic powders can get attached to larger particles that would deposit in the upper airways of the human respiratory system. The alveolar region is the second most exposed region of the respiratory system. Deposition levels in the tracheobronchial region is the lowest. Cosmetic talc powder, used regularly by women worldwide, can cause detrimental effects on different organ systems of the human body. Awareness on its harmful effects to the users may be useful to reduce the usage to some extent.


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