Is there asbestos in consumer products such as powder cosmetics?

Asbestos is not purposefully added to cosmetics or other products such as baby powder. However, asbestos can occur naturally in talc, a substance that is commonly added to these products. Sparkly, shimmery and powdery makeup often contains talc as a major ingredient.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly encourages cosmetic companies to test for traces of asbestos in their products, but there is currently no federal law requiring it. Recently, US-based cosmetic retailers and other companies have been involved in litigation and forced to remove products from store shelves in North America and in Europe due to confirmed presences of asbestos.

Health effects

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos, even in small amounts, can cause serious health problems such as mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases (ARD) including asbestosis and lung cancer. Repeated topical exposure to asbestos may also result in increased skin cancer risk. While there has never been a medically documented case of a person diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease traced to cosmetics, cosmetics with trace amounts of asbestos are far more easily inhaled due to their placement on the face and body.

Regulations

In 2024 the USFDA, in compliance with a US Congressional mandate (MoCRA Act) introduced guidance on the analysis of talc-based cosmetics, analytical method recommendations, and quality assurance objectives. There is currently no federal regulation regarding the use of talc in cosmetics. The current FDA protocol does include the technology-advanced TEM to test for the toxic material by ASTM, ISO, and USP methods. Our team continues to serve on these standards organizations that develop talc-based cosmetic standard test methods.

Analytical methods

Currently there are several analytical guidance documents, sample collection practices, and analytical testing methods in development for asbestos testing in powder cosmetics by ASTM, ISO, and USP. As of 2024, USP901 and 1901 are undergoing validation for pharmaceutical grade products – often related to other consumer products such as cosmetics. The existing asbestos testing methods by EPA are for building materials with a reporting limit of 1%. However, the powder cosmetic products may contain asbestos in the quantity significantly lower than 1%.

Eurofins conducted analysis for asbestos in store-bought makeup. Through a validation study, it was determined that this in-house TEM method can determine asbestos with a reporting limit of <0.1% in powder cosmetic products.

How Eurofins Environment Testing can help

• Eurofins offers a comprehensive suite of testing services for asbestos in powder cosmetics:
• Our PLM and TEM bulk methods offer semi-quantitative analysis with a reporting limit of <1%
• Our in-house TEM method offers semi-quantitative analysis with a report limit of 0.1%
• Our modified EPA 600 R93/116 Sec 2.3 and 2.5 method offers quantitative analysis with a reporting limit of 0.01%
• Eurofins can develop customer specific analytical methods
• Eurofins experts can also provide litigation support if needed
  
  

Additional information and resources

Hidden dangers of talc