Mica in makeup brings many questions to the surface. People have read about illegal mica mines that involve child labor. Miners are usually at an increased risk of respiratory illnesses and diseases because they breathe in mica and dust all day. However, one question that keeps coming up is whether mica causes cancer. Let’s take a deep dive into the research to see.
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Mica And Asbestos
Mica is often found in mining areas with other minerals and materials. One of those is asbestos. Asbestos was once a popular material for houses worldwide, but they discovered it causes cancer. Miners are at an increased risk of developing cancer and breathing in asbestos. However, that doesn’t mean that your eyeshadow is full of asbestos.
Lung Scarring
Mica can cause lung scarring when breathed in. However, it takes a significant amount of exposure to develop fibrosis. According to this fact sheet, fibrosis symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll breathe in large amounts of this mineral. Mica in makeup is usually in lower quantities, so it’s generally considered safe in products like your powder foundation.
Silica And Cancer
Many people believe that mica in makeup causes cancer because it is in a group of minerals called silicate minerals. Significant inhalation of silica dust has been proven to cause cancer. According to The Cancer Council, over 200 people develop cancer yearly due to breathing in silica dust. All mica contains silica, so most people conclude that mica also causes cancer, even though no studies support this.
Reasonable Conclusions
Now, suppose silica causes cancer, and there is a lot of silica in mica. In that case, it’s reasonable to conclude that inhaling large amounts of mica may increase your risk of developing cancer.
Although no studies point out that mica may increase your cancer risk, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. However, most people don’t breathe in enough mica or silica from using cosmetics to be concerned about this. The chance of you developing cancer from using eyeshadow with mica is probably pretty slim.
Occupational Hazards
The primary concern for mica causing cancer is for workers in the industry. Individuals working in construction, mining, or other industries that involve heavy mica exposure are more likely to inhale large amounts of the dust, increasing their risk for cancer.
Risks May Be Unclear
While many companies and websites claim that mica is generally regarded as safe, it’s essential to note that further research is needed. Research has linked inhaling mica to cancer in animals. However, the same website states that there needs to be more research on humans to determine the cancer risk.
Child Labor And Unethical Practices
Many remain concerned about the unethical practices and exploitative labor involved in mica mining. African nations in particular are constantly under fire for the thousands of children that have to work in the mining industry.
Madagascar is well-known for its informal mica industry. Families, including children, often head to unregulated mines. Isolation and extreme poverty leaves them with little other options to afford food and basic necessities. Thousands of children work in the mines, often with little or no workplace protection.
Mica is often sold to other countries, such as China, where it is sold to cosmetic companies. This ensures companies don’t know that their ingredients are coming from child labor, and consumers aren’t aware of where the mica comes from.
Organizations like PACT are fighting against child labor in the mining industry. They help create regulations regarding child labor and work hard to fill gaps for families, such as encouraging mothers to enroll children in a childcare center when available. Although there is a long way to go, organizations like PACT continue to make progress.
Other countries, such as India, are also well-known for the role child labor plays in the informal and often illegal mining industry.
Why Do Some People Avoid Mica?
Some people avoid this ingredient in their cosmetic products. Many point out that they don’t want exposure due to the lack of research regarding exposure and cancer in humans. They may not feel comfortable using something with this ingredient on their lips because they don’t want to ingest it. There’s often a lack of trust regarding the FDA and its approval status.
Many others refuse to purchase cosmetics with this ingredient because they don’t want to support the industry. They feel they are indirectly supporting companies that care little about workplace safety and may not require employees to wear a mask when working with the dust. They also don’t want to support child labor, and avoid the ingredient to ensure they are not buying it from a company that sourced it from India or Madagascar.
Learning about ingredients is important so you can make informed choices. Check out the rest of the site to learn more.
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