Talcum Powder Causing Ovarian Cancer...

Today's newspapers and yesterday news carried one of the articles about a warning from a local consumer association body about the usage of talcum powder which could cause cancer, in particular ovarian cancer. The president cited a study from the Harvard Medical School in the United States that found, from a sample of more than 3,000 women, that those using talcum once a week had a 36% higher risk of getting ovarian cancer while those using talcum daily faced a 41% higher risk. A study also revealed that the risk was greater still for those with a certain genetic profile.That is shocking, as most of my life, I have been using talcum powder, almost on daily basis, coz it is soothing and cooling. But off course the study is based its effect on female instead of male. It is also very popular amongst babies, after shower, would apply it on Chloe and Dylan. The article mentioned about the carcinogenic content of talcum powder, pointing it to this one ingredient called "talc". Talc contains "magnesium trisilicate hydroxide". This mineral is said to contain minute fibres that are very similar to asbestos, a verified substance known to be highly carcinogenic. When applied on the female genital areas, it may "migrate" to the reproductive system and causes the cancer. I wonder the effect if we happen to indirectly inhale the powder? Funny, as a smoker, I thought of this, even though I have been abusing my own lungs for years...The consumer body recommended to avoid using talcum powder and switch to bedak sejuk, which is made from rice flour or corn starch base ingredient. As a temporary measure, until further informations could be obtained, Mom (who takes such news seriously, irrregardless whether the report is on female gender only) asks us to stopped using talcum powder and started to bring out those bedak sejuks for the kids. I couldn't cos I'll ended up looking like someone from the Chinese Opera...