Talc SDS/MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)

3.1 Substances
Product name: Talc
CAS Number: 14807-96-6
PubChem CID: 165411828

3.2 Mixtures
Not applicable (pure substance).

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Inhalation: Fresh air, rest.
Skin contact: Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.
Eye contact: Rinse with plenty of water (remove contact lenses if easily possible).
Ingestion: Rinse mouth.

4.2 Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
See Section 11 (Toxicological Information).

4.3 Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
Treat symptomatically. Contact a poison control center or physician for severe exposure.

5.1 Extinguishing media
Suitable: Water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide (CO2), alcohol-resistant foam.
Unsuitable: None known.

5.2 Specific hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Fires involving this material can be controlled with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)
In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

5.3 Advice for firefighters
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full protective clothing.
Fight fire from upwind. Cool containers with water spray until fire is extinguished.

6.1 Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (see Section 8).
Avoid breathing dust/vapor. Ensure adequate ventilation.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Keep people away from and upwind of spill.

6.2 Environmental precautions
Prevent product from entering drains, waterways, or soil.
Contain spill with inert absorbent material.

6.3 Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up
Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.
Ventilate area of spill. Collect spilled material in the most convenient and safe manner for reclamation or for disposal in a secured sanitary landfill.
SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.
Landfill
SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.
SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.
Measures for health protection of workers exposed to talc dusts include wetting in extractive processes, provision of adequate exhaust ventilation ... in milling and packing operations, supplemented by use of respiratory protective devices by workers and periodic medical exam ... including chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests ... and EKG ... .
There is little question but that the dust of nonfibrous talc, consisting almost entirely of platiform talc crystals and containing no asbestos, carries a relatively small respiratory hazard that must be controlled. The degree to which controls should be applied to talc dust should depend upon its asbestos content. /SRP: however, control may be indicated due to the OSHA nuisance dust standard./

7.1 Precautions for safe handling
SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, you should dampen the solid spill material with water, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with water to pick up any remaining material. Seal your contaminated clothing and the absorbent paper in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Wash all contaminated surfaces with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.
STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should store this material at ambient temperatures. (NTP, 1992)
Keep in a well-ventilated room. Well closed. Cool.

7.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
Keep in a well-ventilated room. Well closed. Cool.
Store away from incompatible materials (see Section 10).
[Note: Specific storage temperature not available in public databases. Refer to supplier Certificate of Analysis (COA) for exact storage conditions.]

9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
a) Appearance: Talc is an odorless white to grayish-white very fine crystalline powder (unctuous). Readily adheres to the skin. Nonflammable, noncombustible, and nontoxic.
b) Odor: Odorless.
c) Odor threshold: No data available
d) pH: No data available
e) Melting point/freezing point: 1700 to 1800 °F (NTP, 1992)
f) Initial boiling point and boiling range: No data available
g) Flash point: No data available
h) Evaporation rate: No data available
i) Flammability (solid, gas): No data available
j) Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: No data available
k) Vapor pressure: 0 mmHg at 68 °F Essentially (NTP, 1992)
l) Vapor density: No data available
m) Relative density: 2.7 to 2.8 (NTP, 1992)
n) Water solubility: less than 1 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992)
o) Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: Log P: No data available
p) Auto-ignition temperature: No data available
q) Decomposition temperature: No data available
r) Viscosity: No data available
s) Explosive properties: No data available
t) Oxidizing properties: No data available

9.2 Other information

11.1 Information on toxicological effects
Acute toxicity:
No acute toxicity data available.
Skin corrosion/irritation:
No data available.
Serious eye damage/eye irritation:
No data available.
Respiratory or skin sensitization:
No data available.
Germ cell mutagenicity:
No data available.
Carcinogenicity:
No data available.
Reproductive toxicity:
No data available.
Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure):
H370, H372
Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure):
No data available.
Aspiration hazard:
No data available.

11.2 Additional information
Carcinogen classification:
Talc
Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans
Volume 42: (1987) Silica and Some Silicates
Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print)
Volume 93: (2010) Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc
Volume 136: (2025) Talc and Acrylonitrile
2025 online
2024
The term "Talc" includes "Talc containing asbestiform fibres other than asbestos" and "Talc not containing asbestiform fibres", whic
Exposure routes:
Exposure mainly occurs via inhalation.
inhalation, skin and/or eye contact
Signs and symptoms of exposure:
Cough.
No acute symptoms expected.
Redness. Pain.
No acute symptoms expected.
Fibrotic pneumoconiosis, irritation eyes
Data source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) via PubChem.

12.1 Toxicity
LC50 Brachydanio rerio (Zebra fish) >100 g/L/24 hr; semistatic
NATIVE TALC, CALLED SOAPSTONE OR FRENCH CHALK, IS FOUND IN VARIOUS PARTS OF WORLD ... EXCELLENT QUALITY IS OBTAINED FROM NORTH CAROLINA ... MANCHUKUO (MANCHURIA). NATIVE TALC IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY VARIABLE AMT OF OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES.
TALC IS A MINERAL PRODUCT, THE COMPOSITION OF WHICH VARIES WIDELY FROM ONE GEOLOGICAL DEPOSIT TO ANOTHER AND EVEN WITHIN THE SAME DEPOSIT. THE MAIN COMPONENT IS A CRYSTALLINE HYDRATED SILICATE OF MAGNESIUM.
The term talc ... covers a wide range of natural minerals, most of which are high magnesium silicates. It is a hydrous magnesium silicate, Mg3SiO10(OH)2, theoretically 31.7% MgO, 63.5% SiO2, and 4.8% H2O. The mineral talc is usually, although not always, a main constituent of mineral mixtures offered commercially as talc.
Minerals commonly associated with talc are tremolite (CaMg3(SiO3)4), serpentine (2MgO.2SiO2.2HsO), anthophyllite (Mg7.(OH)2.(Si4O11)2), magnesite, mica, and chlorite. The latter is a talclike mineral in which varying proportions of aluminium are substituted for magnesium in the brucite layer. Prochlorite, for example, is 9MgO.3Al2O3.5SiO2.8H2O
For more Natural Pollution Sources (Complete) data for TALC (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
... MIGRATES TO FOOD FROM PACKAGING MATERIALS.
Talc milling processes do not usually alter the mineral composition of the talc mixture delivered to the mill, but rather produce a talc with different physical pro

12.2 Persistence and degradability
No data available.

12.3 Bioaccumulative potential
No data available.

12.4 Mobility in soil
No data available.

12.5 Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
PBT/vPvB assessment not available.

12.6 Other adverse effects
No other adverse ecological effects identified.

13.1 Waste treatment methods
Waste Treatment Methods: Waste material must be disposed of in accordance with national and local regulations. Leave chemicals in original containers and do not mix with other waste. Handle uncleaned containers in the same manner as the product itself.

14.1 UN number
Not regulated as dangerous goods (research quantities typically exempt).

14.2 UN proper shipping name
Not subject to transport regulations (small quantities for research use).

14.3 Transport hazard class(es)
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport (research quantities).

14.4 Packing group
Not applicable (not regulated as dangerous goods in typical research quantities).

14.5 Environmental hazards
Marine pollutant: No (not classified as environmentally hazardous per GHS).

14.6 Special precautions for user
Transport in original packaging. Ensure containers are tightly sealed.
For bulk or commercial quantities, consult applicable transport regulations (DOT, IATA, IMDG).

14.7 Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code
Not applicable.

15.1 Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
US EPA / TSCA: Subject to EPA TSCA regulations
EU ECHA / REACH: Registered (REACH Active)

SARA 302 Components:
No chemicals in this material are subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III, Section 302.
SARA 313 Components:
This material does not contain any chemical components with known CAS numbers that exceed the threshold (De Minimis) reporting levels established by SARA Title III, Section 313.
SARA 311/312 Hazards:
Acute (short-term) health hazard
Chronic (long-term) health hazard

Massachusetts Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Massachusetts Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
Pennsylvania Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
New Jersey Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the New Jersey Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.

California Prop. 65 Components:
This product does not contain any chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or any other reproductive harm.

Other regulatory listings:
- The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals: Chemical: Talc (Mg3H2(SiO3)4)
- California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) Reportable Ingredient: Hazard Traits - Carcinogenicity Authoritative List - IARC Carcinogens - 2A; Prop 65 Report - regardless of intended function of ingredient in the product
- EFSA Legal Basis: Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 (amended)
- New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act: The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)
- FIFRA Requirements: Residues of talc are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a solid diluent or carrier in accordance with good agricultural practices as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest.

15.2 Chemical safety assessment
A chemical safety assessment has not been carried out for this substance.
For research-use-only compounds, no CSA is required under REACH Annex I.

Revision Date: 2026/09/09
Further Information: The information provided is believed to be correct but is not exhaustive and should be used only as a guideline based on current knowledge. It does not represent a guarantee of the properties of the product. Selleck Chemicals Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from handling or contact with the product.