To be awake worrying about this?

[Willoraway]

I have been using Johnson & Johnson baby powder as dry shampoo a few times a week for a long time - maybe 10 years or so. I was vaguely aware of historical health concerns but very stupidly didn’t stop and think, and just assumed that this was a concern from years and years ago.

I’ve just read that it potentially contained asbestos until 2023 and I’ve been inhaling it fairly regularly for years.

I’ve spiralled into a complete state of anxiety over this and I’m so worried I could have caused lung cancer or similar.

AIBU?

The NHS has stated that there is no link between talcum powder use and cancer. The company has also stated that they have not used asbestos in producing their talcum based products, neither since 2023 nor before. I'm not convinced that this court case has merit, but I guess we'll find out. However, unless you have some specific symptoms, I would try not to worry about it.

It's been scientifically proved the evidence is nonsense
Nowt to worry about I'd suggest.

It’s amazing how quickly people ‘proving’ it’s safe seem to find these threads and yet they rely on carefully worded aggressive arguments (of course no asbestos was ‘added’, it is inherently found in the ground alongside talc deposits and contamination occurs during mining), and provide zero links to the ‘scientific proof’ 🧐
Bit of a PR disaster for J+J as well.
OP it is worrying but like those of us exposed to passive smoking at home during our childhoods, you need to put it out of your mind because what’s done is done.

I wouldn't worry, talcum powder was my dry shampoo throughout the 90's and beyond.

I would take the pragmatic view that there are literally hundreds of cancer causing products in our lives now. One of them is likely to get you at some point. Forever chemicals from non stick, asbestos in old school buildings, if you grew up in an old house led pipes and paint. Mobile phones. Air pollutants. Microplastics in the food chain. Even sunlight. You can't really avoid them all. Just enjoy your life.

I'm not "proving" anything. I'm an epidemiologist with a medical degree and years of experience in medical research. Is it all right with you if I rely on the evidence in front of me?

👌👏👏👏👏
Love this response!