Many thanks to our wonderful consultant and guest
blogger, Sally Borkowsky, for this article about baby powder. Sally is the mother of two little ones, a secondary school science teacher and a Marine Scientist. We are sincerely grateful for her time in researching and compiling this post.
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Growing up I remember walking into
my parents’ bathroom on several occasions and seeing powder on the floor. My
parents were quite clean people so for years I thought this is what you did
with it! They used it on their own bodies after showering and they had used it
on my brothers and me as babies. One year I was given a little container of
talcum powder with a Beatrix Potter label. I thought it was so special that I
used it sparingly - just enough to get that lovely fresh powder smell. I used so
little that I still have the half-full container. I don’t know why I kept it,
especially knowing what I do now. Maybe it was so I could write a post on it!
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| L-R: Talc, Talc Free (with other additives), Plain cornflour |
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Talc is a naturally occurring mineral. If you recall studying geology in school, it is the little white rock that you could scratch with your fingernail, scoring 1 on Mohs Scale of Hardness. It looks harmless enough and, because it absorbs moisture really well, has been crushed into a powder and used on our bodies for longer than I care to think about.
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One of the issues with talc is that it can be found with asbestos. (To clear up a little confusion created by some websites, talc is not asbestos. The two minerals are both from the silicate family and share some similarities, however they are different). Although most impurities are usually removed during processing, asbestos fibres can still become interspersed with the talc. The presence of any asbestos is of concern as it is a known carcinogen. In addition there have been reports of talc particles being found within tumours of the lungs and ovaries. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has also identified talc as "a possible carcinogen in women".
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The second issue, which has been documented for a much longer period of time, but that many probably don't think/know about, is the inhalation of talc. When you gently squeeze your bottle of talcum powder onto your baby, while most of the powder hits the target, fine particles spray through the air and are inevitably inhaled. (Once mothers may have even entertained their baby by allowing them to actually play with the bottle, risking an increased dose if they managed to squeeze it hard enough). These particles from "dusting" are inevitably inhaled and can lead to respiratory problems including bronchiolar obstruction, bronchiolitis, pneumonitis and pulmonary talcosis. Acute inhalation of talcum powder has also resulted in death.
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral. If you recall studying geology in school, it is the little white rock that you could scratch with your fingernail, scoring 1 on Mohs Scale of Hardness. It looks harmless enough and, because it absorbs moisture really well, has been crushed into a powder and used on our bodies for longer than I care to think about.
..
One of the issues with talc is that it can be found with asbestos. (To clear up a little confusion created by some websites, talc is not asbestos. The two minerals are both from the silicate family and share some similarities, however they are different). Although most impurities are usually removed during processing, asbestos fibres can still become interspersed with the talc. The presence of any asbestos is of concern as it is a known carcinogen. In addition there have been reports of talc particles being found within tumours of the lungs and ovaries. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has also identified talc as "a possible carcinogen in women".
..
The second issue, which has been documented for a much longer period of time, but that many probably don't think/know about, is the inhalation of talc. When you gently squeeze your bottle of talcum powder onto your baby, while most of the powder hits the target, fine particles spray through the air and are inevitably inhaled. (Once mothers may have even entertained their baby by allowing them to actually play with the bottle, risking an increased dose if they managed to squeeze it hard enough). These particles from "dusting" are inevitably inhaled and can lead to respiratory problems including bronchiolar obstruction, bronchiolitis, pneumonitis and pulmonary talcosis. Acute inhalation of talcum powder has also resulted in death.
..
So, what can you do?
- Avoid all talc-containing powders and cosmetics. Look for “talc-free” labels and if it doesn’t have it, don’t buy it.
- Make your own. Some people like using plain cornstarch
and a quick Google search revealed a wealth of
other recipes for home made baby powder.
- Use a towel. Rather than dusting yourself or your baby with powder simply spend a few extra seconds patting the area dry.
- Nappy free time. Nothing keeps moisture away from your baby’s bottom like rolling, crawling or running around in the nude. If you want to avoid puddles, get your hands on a Close Free and Dri Mat (available again soon in 2 new bright colours!) for your pre-crawler, use a drop sheet or go outside.
Remember, if you do still choose to
use a powder, point it away from your baby’s face and only use in moderation.
Don't let your baby play with the powder container. All powders are (by
definition) made up of fine particles which can be inhaled and irritate the
respiratory system.
Some articles you may like to read:
Some articles you may like to read:
© Sally Borkowsky 2012
Sally services Coffs Harbour and surrounds. Email her today to arrange for a free nappy party or one-on-one demonstration. Join the Coffs Harbour Facebook community. You can find Sally regularly at the Jetty Markets in Coffs Harbour.
Sally services Coffs Harbour and surrounds. Email her today to arrange for a free nappy party or one-on-one demonstration. Join the Coffs Harbour Facebook community. You can find Sally regularly at the Jetty Markets in Coffs Harbour.
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