The Deadly Death Cocktail: Talcum Powder, Arsenic and Teflon

If you’re someone who researches various health topics, you’ve probably heard of these three chemicals: talcum powder, Teflon, arsenic.

What you probably haven’t heard is that these three, called the “death cocktail” by ConsumerSafety.org , are found in common household items. I plan to show you why these chemicals (and by extension the products containing them) are so dangerous, and how to minimize exposure to protect your health.

The 3 Ingredient 'Death Cocktail by ConsumerSafety.org

#1 - Talcum Powder

Talcum powder is an astringent that’s commonly used to prevent diaper rash in babies. Unfortunately, it’s been linked to a higher risk of ovarian cancer and lung disease. Johnson & Johnson sells a popular talcum powder in a white bottle that you’ve likely seen on store shelves. The legal cases against this company have procured several scientific studies proving a correlation between extended use of the product and the two adverse health conditions listed above.



What many people aren’t aware of is that cosmetic products (a category that baby powders fall under) are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So even though there is overwhelming evidence showing causality between the use of these products and cancer, it is still legal in the U.S. to sell products containing this substance. It’s worth noting that the entire supplement industry is similarly unregulated as it falls under the scope of the FDA.

The best way to avoid talcum powder is to read the ingredient labels of baby powders you purchase. Even if the product isn’t sold as “talcum powder,” it can be listed in the ingredients.

Make sure to check both the “active ingredients” and “inactive ingredients” lists. Look for non-toxic alternatives like those that are cornstarch-based. You can even make your own baby powder at home and save money by using arrowroot powder as a base and adding a drop or two of essential oil to the mix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBNZYemITrY

Worst-case Scenario of Talcum Powder Usage

In early 2016 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) had to pay $72 million to the family of a woman whose ovarian cancer was linked to talcum powder usage. The woman, who hailed from Alabama, used not only the talcum powder product but another product containing talcum powder called Shower to Shower. This highlights the need to read the ingredient label, as the woman probably had no idea the second product contained talcum powder as well. She actually ended up dying from the condition, and her lawyer found J&J liable for fraud, negligence, and conspiracy.

#2 - Arsenic

Arsenic is found in wine. This chemical compound is a known poison and does not end up in wine as a result of grape fermentation. Rather it naturally occurs in soil and becomes more concentrated in the finished product. The same issue is seen in rice crops to a varying degree. It’s also of note that in the class-action lawsuit against various wine distributors, it was shown that the price of wine inversely correlated with the arsenic content. Put plainly, cheaper wines have more arsenic and more expensive wines tend to have less of it on average.



The regulatory status of beverage contaminants is similar to that of cosmetic products: the FDA takes a hands-off approach. There is a federal arsenic limit for public drinking water, but not for wine. Presumably, that’s because of wine a non-essential aspect of the diet. Some of the wines tested had arsenic levels up to five times higher than the maximum allowed in tap water.

As a consumer, the takeaway here isn’t to avoid wine. It still has health-promoting properties like antioxidants. But it might be smart to avoid the absolute cheapest wine if you can and to limit and vary your sources of alcohol if you decide to drink. This will ensure that you don’t get too much of a specific toxin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOymlbw5aH8

Worst-case Scenario of Arsenic Poisoning from Wine

There was a published case in 1979 of arsenic poisoning related to wine intake. The limiting variable here though is that the patient was an alcoholic. A lack of other medical information about arsenic poisoning related to wine proves that the risk of outright poisoning is very low. There have been no studies measuring blood levels of arsenic and correlating them to wine intake, however, and since arsenic is a toxin even lower levels than would be necessary to poison someone can cause long-term damage.

#3 - Teflon

Teflon can be found in many non-stick cooking pans. Teflon is a chemical compound created in a lab by combining perfluoroalkyl (PFOA) substances. It’s applied to cookware to prevent food from sticking to the pan, for consumer convenience. That consumer convenience comes at a high price though, considering that over 200 scientists in 2015 worked together to publish a paper proving the carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effect of Teflon.



This is the one case out of these three toxins outlined in this article where the U.S. government took action to protect consumers. In 2005 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined Teflon pan manufacturer DuPont for concealing information about the health hazards of PFOAs. This company actually knew that their products were toxic to humans, but continued to sell them to pad their bottom line. The EPA also recently announced an initiative to get cookware companies to reduce the use of Teflon in their products, but what ended up happening was that most companies continued using the same ingredients but removing the “Teflon” brand-name advertising.

Like talcum powder, this is a health hazard you can totally avoid with conscious shopping. Try to avoid non-stick pans entirely since the coating ingredients aren’t usually listed. Ceramic and cast-iron cookware are safe and environmentally friendly options. Many larger retailers like Walmart may not have these options so it may be your best bet to look online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v4NvQqVrF0

Worst-case Scenario: You don’t want to end up with the “Teflon flu.”

This is a real term verified by Teflon manufacturer DuPont that describes the flu-like effects of Teflon fume inhalation when that can occur as a result of cooking non-stick pans at high temperatures. There are several reported accounts of “polymer fume fever,” and this is a toxic load that you definitely don’t want to subject your body to. If you must cook with Teflon, do so at low temperatures. From the DuPont site: “DuPont non-stick coatings will not begin to deteriorate in appearance or performance until the temperature of the cookware reaches about 500°F (260°C). The coating will not show significant decomposition unless temperatures exceed about 660°F (349°C).”

In conclusion, here's what to remember...

Hopefully, you can come away from this deluge of information with the important knowledge that avoiding the “Death Cocktail” of ingredients can be easy. It’s just about being a little bit more aware when you purchase products for your home. These three toxic chemical compounds are some of the most harmful, but surely not the only harmful compounds in consumer goods.

That’s why it’s always advisable to search for natural alternatives. You don’t want to wait until a scientific study comes out ten years later implicating a synthetic chemical in a product you use. Assume the worst and spend a couple extra dollars if you have the means so that you can protect your health and that of your family.

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Author Bio:

Cal Cook investigates and writes about consumer-focused topics including finance, scams, and safety. His passion lies in exposing fraud across all industries to protect consumers.

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