Talc is a naturally occurring hydrous magnesium silicate mineral. I don't know of any reason it should be unhealthy unless inhaled in large quantities. It won't make you "high" so no reason to inhale it. So stay with the good stuff recommended in post #16 .

OWT (old-wives-tale) One more of the bike superstitions that have no real merit.

Talc in its natural form can contain small amounts of asbestos, which is a risk for talc miners. But it is usually purified by the time it reaches consumer products. There have also been some very inconclusive studies possibly linking talc exposure to ovarian cysts and stuff like that, but nothing that would rise to the level of serious concern, IMHO.

Now, whether that Rema Talc has been purified to remove any asbestos, I have no idea. I'm guessing the answer is probably yes. That also goes for the bottle of pure talc I bought from "some guy on eBay" who sells it for use in drying neoprene wet suits.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I had no idea that this subject would spark this amount of conversation. And I had no idea that so many people still used some sort of powder in 2013. And the powders range from the baby's-butt stuff, to specialized bike powders, cocaine and dirt.

I baby-powder tubes and tires when they're new. Maybe it's an OWT, but it does facilitate installation and I enjoy the fragrance.

Talc works great on problem installs. I use on motorcycle as well. Really helps get that big ol' motorbike bead to slip over the rim! No need for soap or other slippery substance.

Unless it's an element, everything is an actual chemical compound. Corn starch is made up of many chemical compounds and a few elements.

All right, being a pedant myself I accept your admonishment. What I meant was that it is a specific chemical compound, not a generic term for absorbant, slippery, white powder, which is how it gets used colloquially.


NIOSH says it's mostly a skin and eye irritant, but in large quantities can affect heart and lungs. Didn't mean to alarm anyone.

Yeah Mr. White!

Sure, 6' of it can cause suffocation.

FWIW, starch is just a sugar polymer.