Is Talc safe in cosmetics?
Talc has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Talc
Also known as: Talc (Mg3H2(SiO3)4), Alpine talc USP, bc 127, EINECS 238-877-9, Finntalc C10, Finntalc M05 (+15 more)
INCI: TALC
Talc (CAS 14807-96-6) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Absorbent; anti-caking agent; bulking agent; slip agent; opacifier; used in. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted, max No specific EU concentration limit. Heavy metal impurities in talc raw material must comply with BVL/BfR trace limits: lead ≤ 10 ppm (general), arsenic ≤ 2.5 ppm, nickel ≤ 10 ppm (soluble), cadmium ≤ 0.1 ppm. EU requires documentation of technically unavoidable heavy metal impurities in the PIF. Nano form (particle < 100 nm) would require pre-market notification.; GHS signal word WARNING. Industrial sa
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 14807-96-6 →
Function
Absorbent; anti-caking agent; bulking agent; slip agent; opacifier; used in powder cosmetics, dry shampoos, face powders, body powders, and talc-based foundations
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
EC Number
238-877-9
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
EU Max Conc.
No specific EU concentration limit. Heavy metal impurities in talc raw material must comply with BVL/BfR trace limits: lead ≤ 10 ppm (general), arsenic ≤ 2.5 ppm, nickel ≤ 10 ppm (soluble), cadmium ≤ 0.1 ppm. EU requires documentation of technically unavoidable heavy metal impurities in the PIF. Nano form (particle < 100 nm) would require pre-market notification.
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
FDA surveys confirmed talc-containing products (powders, blushes, eye shadows, compact powders) consistently show highest heavy metal concentrations among cosmetic categories. FDA has tested talc for asbestos contamination (separate concern from heavy metals). MoCRA requires all mineral-heavy formulations to have documented heavy metal testing for safety substantiation.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Talc.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
CancerHealth haz
Hazard Statements
May cause damage to lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled
Short-term Exposure Effects
May cause mechanical irritation to the eyes and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the lungs. This may result in pneumoconiosis. See Notes.
Routes of Exposure
Exposure mainly occurs via inhalation.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
2 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEL | =25 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| NOEL | <=6000 mg hr/m3 | Hamster | inhalation | short-term | ECHA |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
2A
Volume
42, Sup 7, 93, 136
Evaluation Year
2024
The term "Talc" includes "Talc containing asbestiform fibres other than asbestos" and "Talc not containing asbestiform fibres", which were evaluated separately in Volume 93. For "Talc containing asbestos", see "Asbestos".
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: (a) Powdery products intended to be used for children under 3 years of age (b) Other products.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Restricted
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | restricted | - | powders |
| BR | restricted | - | a) Children's body powder (<3 yrs); b) Other products |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Abrasive
Absorbent
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Anti-caking agent
Cleaning agent
Conductive agent
Crystal growth modifiers (nucleating agents)
Deodorizer
Dispersing agent
Regulatory List Membership (4)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Talc — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
heavy-metal-impurity-source
icp-ms-batch-testing-required
asbestos-certification-required
inhalation-risk
mocra-substantiation-required
eu-pif-documentation-required
high-risk-powder-products
geological-source-dependent
eu_children_restricted
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Talc (Mg3H2(SiO3)4)
Alpine talc USP, bc 127
EINECS 238-877-9
Finntalc C10
Finntalc M05
Finntalc M15
Finntalc P40
Hydrous magnesium silicate
Lo Micron talc USP, bc 2755
Magnesium silicate, hydrous
Micro Ace K1
Micro Ace L1
Microtalco IT Extra
NCI-C06008
Nonasbestiform talc
Nonfibrous talc
Snowgoose
Steatite
Steatite talc
Supreme
Chemical Function
Abrasive
Absorbent
Regulatory Lists
fracking; water
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
pharmaceutical
Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bath salts
children; Europe; Personal care
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry detergent; Europe
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care; restricted
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
talc
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL3989756
Adverse Event Associations
13
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Magnesium silicate
E Number
E553a
ADI
NOT SPECIFIED mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Talc allowed in the EU?
Talc EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: No specific EU concentration limit. Heavy metal impurities in talc raw material must comply with BVL/BfR trace limits: lead ≤ 10 ppm (general), arsenic ≤ 2.5 ppm, nickel ≤ 10 ppm (soluble), cadmium ≤ 0.1 ppm. EU requires documentation of technically unavoidable heavy metal impurities in the PIF. Nano form (particle < 100 nm) would require pre-market notification.. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Talc do in cosmetics?
Talc functions as: Absorbent; anti-caking agent; bulking agent; slip agent; opacifier; used in powder cosmetics, dry shampoos, face powders, body powders, and talc-based foundations. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 14807-96-6.
Is Talc classified as hazardous under GHS?
Talc carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: May cause damage to lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Talc used outside cosmetics?
Talc also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Talc compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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