Health

Asbestos Found in Baby Powder

by Suranee | April 1, 2009 at 09:39 pm

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Traces of asbestos have been found in baby powder used to prevent rashes. The Korea Food and Drug Administration is checking 30 different baby powder products manufactured by 14 companies. So far up to 40 percent have been found to contain asbestos.

Asbestos has been found in baby powder used to prevent rashes. The Korea Food and Drug Administration is examining 30 different baby powder products manufactured by 14 companies, and so far up to 40 percent have been found to contain asbestos.

Experts say that small amounts of asbestos in baby powder is not harmful since it is naturally contained in talcum powder.

Experts say asbestos is naturally contained in talcum powder, the main ingredient of baby powders, and the small amount found in the baby powder is not harmful.

An article posted on Asbestos.com's website states that when baby powder is inhaled it could be dangerous if it contains asbestos because it can develop over time into deadly cancers and illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Although today baby powder is generally free of asbestos, not so many years ago baby powders and other talcum products contained asbestos fibers. What's more, even today it is altogether possible that your baby powder or talcum could be contaminated with asbestos. The danger of using an asbestos-containing hygienic product is clear. Talcum and baby powders are finely ground and easy to aspirate. Once these minute fibers are breathed, they could wreck havoc on your body, developing over time into deadly cancers and illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. And because mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses may take years or decades to fully develop, you could potentially present symptoms of an asbestos-related illness many years after your initial exposure.