Thread: Where is all the Talc?

Depends on your age I guess. Now I'm 40+ I figure some risks are worth taking, where they would be silly as a young person. Talcum powder holds no fear for me!

There are some risks you shouldn't take. E.g. if a product says to use it in a well ventilated area you should do so (some solvents can do really horrible instant damage to your lungs.) And use eye protection when doing work that can send sharp bits flying towards your face.

Can talc be any worse than the fumes from some body sprays? Some of those make me gag, I always take a deep breath before using them then hold my breath as long as possible to let the gas disperse.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The fact is talc is in the same family of minerals as asbestos and you can't purify the stuff because what makes it harmful is innate to the stuff. Kind of like going into a steak house and ordering a steak and then putting it in a blender and extracting all the fat.

Many "talcs" are really made of cornstarch or some other items. You need to read the label.

Other than that it's one of those things you either believe or you don't. It takes a long time to develop the illness after exposure so by the time you realize what's going on its too late.Alsol like with something like smoking it depends on if you have a genetic weakness to the stuff. Some people can smoke 4 packs of cigs a day for life and never have a problem or drink a fifth of rotgut every day and be fine and others, well...

I think it might be a matter of exposure, as well. Talc miners are in it up their elbows every day. A puff or two after your bath isn't nearly at the same level....Darn near anything that gets into your body in ultra-high amounts is going to hurt you, really.

My barber hasn't used straights in years but tells me that he used to give his razors a generous application of talc at the end of the day to inhibit rust. First time I'd heard of it being used in that manner.

I remember when I was a kid and went to Andy's barber shop for a haircut. After the haircut your neck would be hit with a brush loaded with talc which formed a cloud around your head.

There are some items where just one exposure is enough to do you in. many years ago I was planning a geology Field trip and we were planning a trip to an Asbestos Mine(quarry) and just before we left we were advised that only one brief exposure to Asbestos Dust is enough to give you issues years later in life.

So what about talc? We'll I'm still alive and kicking. But as they say you buy your ticket and you take your ride.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I remember when I was a kid and went to Andy's barber shop for a haircut. After the haircut your neck would be hit with a brush loaded with talc which formed a cloud around your head.

I remember going to the barbers as a kid, too - they used to finish by shaving off all the fine fuzzy hair on the back of your neck with a straight razor, then a big rubber squeezy-bulb thing full of talc was aimed at you - a few puffs and you disappeared in a cloud of powder! I never really paid that much attention to the barber, and the old barber wasn't predisposed to talking to kids, so I used to look at all the potions and boxes on the shelf, and the big "something for the weekend" box on the wall - I didn't figure out exactly what that was until much later, though!

Regards,
Neil