Talc Hazards Overview

Health concerns about talc revolve mainly around the non-platiform content, the extent to which these are asbestos, and how high the length:width ratio of non-asbestos particles needs to be to make them a hazard also.

ACGIH TLV and OSHA PEL: 2 mg/cubic meter, 8 hr. TWA, Respirable Dust (talc containing no asbestos fibers).
CAS: 71949-90-1
Chlorite (typical 3%) ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/cubic meter 8 hr. TWA
CAS: 14808-60-7 Silica: (typical 2%) ACGIH TLV & OSHA PEL: 0.1 mg/cubic meter 8 hr. TWA, Respirable Dust

Wilson's RISK Scale of Material Hazards
(1-4 higher numbers are increased hazard)

R 1 (reactivity)
I 2 (inhalation)
S 1 (skin contact)
K 1 (kindling/fire)

May cause irritation to upper respiratory tract.

Pre-existing lung disease may be aggravated by exposure to dust. Prolonged over exposure can cause Talcosis (a pulmonary fibrosis of the lungs). Although talc is a fibrous magnesium silicate as is asbestos, it does not have the same effect on the lungs. The two minerals are closely associated, and most commercial talcs do contain some asbestos.

Talc is not characterized as a carcinogen by NTP, IARC, ACGIH or OSHA.

Talc may contain extremely small amounts (less than 2 ppm) of substances regulated under drinking water regulations: e.g. arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel.

Phsyical Data:

Water Solubility: Insoluble
Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.8
Melting Point: 1650-1830F (900-1000F)
Flash Point: Non-combustible
Hazardous Decomposition Products: None
Stability: High resistant to acids, alkalies, heat.
Disposal: Talc is not a hazardous waste.

References

An excellent discussion of talc hazards can be found in 'Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices' from the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, OH
'Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology', John Wiley & Sons has information on asbestosis and talcosis.

By Tony Hansen
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Related Information

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Hazards	Asbestos: A Difficult-to-Repace Material
Hazards	Talc Toxicology
URLs	http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/_icsc00/icsc0014.htm Asbestos at ilo.org
URLs	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos Asbestos at Wikipedia
URLs	https://insight-live.com/insight/share.php?z=P8uThTnFoY Replace Talc with Nepheline Syenite in low temperature white bodies This is a development project at Plainsman Clays. It is in response to Texas talc no longer being available in North America.
URLs	https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/j-j-gets-banker-s-117-million-talc-verdict-tossed-on-appeal-1.1596472 J&J has allocated $4 billion for talc litigation in 2019 Judgements against them claim their baby powder caused cancer and mesothelioma. Once settlement alone was $2 billion!
Oxides	Sm2O3 -

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