This chapter describes some of what is known about the effects of talc as cosmetic or pharmaceutical talcum powder on the pleura and other organs of the human body. It further describes some of the already known mechanisms of how it interacts with human cells and tissue to cause diseases, specifically in the pleura. The effects of talcum powder are well established that the range of diseases include clinical or subclinical inflammation, granulomatous disease and tumors, in the pleura mainly mesotheliomas. Also included are some preliminary evidence indicating what happens in vitro with macrophages in response to talc morphologically and the consequences following the treatment with the release of factors such as chemokines, cytokines and oxidants.
Part of the book: Diseases of Pleura