I decided to do a little research into different powders commonly used for dolls. First thing I wanted to know is the qualities of each of them, after that, findings about their hazards. A few other questions then came to mind on the topic of using a powder medium for protective, general upkeep and cosmetic use for silicone dolls. Why should I apply this powder medium to the doll? What should I apply the powder medium with? Does the doll maker recommend a particular powder medium and application method?
One or two of you might be thinking “hey that’s a good idea”, quite a few “this man has no life”, or (likely many) “holy crap, what a waste of time”. And I don’t blame you for the latter. After all, it’s certainly not every day that somebody totally ‘geeks out’ about powder mediums and dives into it head first. For some inexplicable reason, I felt compelled to do this. So, flying spaghetti monster forgive me, here it is…
At this time I would like to encourage honest and factual feedback; for members to post additional facts and research for support, proof/disproof of evidence and conclusions. By no means is this an in-depth research and treatise on doll powdering mediums, but I think that some essential questions and groundwork has been laid for further research and conclusions. Who knows maybe one day it will be? (Research and conclusions on doll powdering mediums – lol) Well, you might even get a laugh out of this when it’s all said and done. “In my next issue; muskrat versus ferret - which makes the better Bow-tie?”
The following is a presentation of my facts and findings about the three products. Obviously, it’s not an exhaustive list; however these references cite most of the typically documented facts/findings about the products.
Also, I sent a questionnaire to four US silicone doll manufacturers, asking them to tell me what product they recommend for powdering, mode of application and reason for applying the powder medium. An afterthought about the questionnaire is that I did not ask if any of doll makers if they used ‘baby powder’. Unfortunately, due to a lack of evidence about baby powder, I asked only if they used talcum powder or cornstarch. Notwithstanding, those results are at the end of this report.
Facts and findings of Talcum powder, Baby powder, and Cornstarch
Talcum powder
(Wikipedia)
Talc
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Magnesium silicate" redirects here. For the synthetic form, see synthetic magnesium silicate.
Talc (derived from Persian: تالک tālk; Arabic: تلك talk) is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. In loose form, it is the widely used substance known as talcum powder. It occurs as foliated to fibrous masses, and in an exceptionally rare crystal form. It has a perfect basal cleavage, and the folia are non-elastic, although slightly flexible. It is the softest known mineral and listed as 1 on the Mohs hardness scale. It can be easily scratched by a fingernail. It is also sectile (can be cut with a knife). It has a specific gravity of 2.5–2.8, a clear or dusty luster, and is translucent to opaque. Talc is not soluble in water, but it is slightly soluble in dilute mineral acids. Its colour ranges from white to grey or green and it has a distinctly greasy feel. Its streak is white.
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock composed predominantly of talc.
Talc is a metamorphic mineral resulting from the metamorphism of magnesian minerals such as serpentine, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, in the presence of carbon dioxide and water. This is known as talc carbonation or steatization and produces a suite of rocks known as talc carbonates.
Talc is primarily formed via hydration and carbonation via the following reaction;
serpentine + carbon dioxide → talc + magnesite + water2 Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 + 3CO2 → Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 + 3 MgCO3 + 3 H2O
Talc can also be formed via a reaction between dolomite and silica, which is typical of skarnification of dolomites via silica-flooding in contact metamorphic aureoles;
dolomite + silica + water → talc + calcite + carbon dioxide3 CaMg(CO3)2 + 4 SiO2 + H2O → Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 + 3 CaCO3 + 3 CO2
Talc can also be formed from magnesian chlorite and quartz in blueschist and eclogite metamorphism via the following metamorphic reaction:
chlorite + quartz → kyanite + talc + water
In this reaction, the ratio of talc and kyanite is dependent on aluminium content with more aluminous rocks favoring production of kyanite. This is typically associated with high-pressure, low-temperature minerals such as phengite, garnet, glaucophane within the lower blueschist facies. Such rocks are typically white, friable, and fibrous, and are known as whiteschist.
Talc is a tri-octahedral layered mineral; its structure is similar to that of pyrophyllite, but with magnesium in the octahedral sites of the composite layers.[2]
talc is a common metamorphic mineral in metamorphic belts which contain ultramafic rocks, such as soapstone (a high-talc rock), and within whiteschist and blueschist metamorphic terranes. Prime examples of whiteschists include the Franciscan Metamorphic Belt of the western United States, the western European Alps especially in Italy, certain areas of the Musgrave Block, and some collisional orogens such as the Himalayas which stretches along Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Talc carbonate ultramafics are typical of many areas of the Archaean cratons, notably the komatiite belts of the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. Talc-carbonate ultramafics are also known from the Lachlan Fold Belt, eastern Australia, from Brazil, the Guiana Shield, and from the ophiolite belts of Turkey, Oman and the Middle East.
Notable economic talc occurrences include the Mount Seabrook talc mine, Western Australia, formed upon a polydeformed, layered ultramafic intrusion. The France-based Luzenac Group is the world's largest supplier of mined talc; its largest talc mine at Trimouns near Luzenac in southern France produces 400,000 tonnes of talc per year, representing 8% of world production.[5]
the structure of talc is composed of Si2O5 sheets with magnesium sandwiched between sheets in octahedral sites.
Talc is used in many industries such as paper making, plastic, paint and coatings, rubber, food, electric cable, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, ceramics, etc. A coarse grayish-green high-talc rock is soapstone or steatite and has been used for stoves, sinks, electrical switchboards, crayons, soap, etc. It is often used for surfaces of lab counter tops and electrical switchboards because of its resistance to heat, electricity and acids. Talc finds use as a cosmetic (talcum powder), as a lubricant, and as a filler in paper manufacture. Talc is used in baby powder, an astringent powder used for preventing rashes on the area covered by a diaper. It is also often used in basketball to keep a player's hands dry. Most tailor's chalk, or French chalk, is talc, as is the chalk often used for welding or metalworking.
Talc is also used as food additive or in pharmaceutical products as a glidant. In medicine talc is used as a pleurodesis agent to prevent recurrent pleural effusion or pneumothorax. In the European Union the additive number is E553b.
Talc is widely used in the ceramics industry in both bodies and glazes. In low-fire artware bodies it imparts whiteness and increases thermal expansion to resist crazing. In stonewares, small percentages of talc are used to flux the body and therefore improve strength and vitrification. It is a source of MgO flux in high temperature glazes (to control melting temperature). It is also employed as a matting agent in earthenware glazes and can be used to produce magnesia mattes at high temperatures.
Patents are pending on the use of magnesium silicate as a cement substitute. Its production requirements are less energy-intensive than ordinary Portland cement (at a heating requirement of around 650 °C for talc compared to 1500 °C for limestone to produce Portland cement), while it absorbs far more carbon dioxide as it hardens. This results in a negative carbon footprint overall, as the cement substitute removes 0.6 tonnes of CO2 per tonne used. This contrasts with a carbon footprint of 0.4 tonne per tonne of conventional cement.[6]
Talc is sometimes used as an adulterant to illegal heroin, to expand volume and weight and thereby increase its street value. With intravenous use, it may lead to talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation in the lungs.
Safety[edit]
Talc powder is a household item, sold globally for use in personal hygiene and cosmetics. Some suspicions have been raised about the possibility its use promotes certain types of diseases, mainly cancers of the ovaries and lungs (it is in the same 2B category in the IARC listing as mobile phones and coffee) although this is not widely recognised as an established link.[7][8]
The studies reference, by subject: pulmonary issues,[9] lung cancer,[10][11] and ovarian cancer.[12] One of these, published in 1993, was a US National Toxicology Program report, which found that cosmetic grade talc containing no asbestos-like fibres was correlated with tumour formation in rats (animal testing) forced to inhale talc for 6 hours a day, five days a week over at least 113 weeks.[10] A 1971 paper found particles of talc embedded in 75% of the ovarian tumors studied.[13] Recent research questions if a link does actually exist between the two. [14] [15]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have set occupational exposure limits to respirable talc dusts at 2 mg/m3 over an eight-hour workday.[16]
One particular issue with commercial use of talc is its frequent co-location in underground deposits with asbestos ore, which often leads to contamination of powdered talc products with asbestos fibres. Stringent quality control since 1976 (separating cosmetic and food-grade talc from "industrial" grade talc, which is allowed a certain portion of asbestos contamination) has mostly eliminated this issue, but it remains a continuing hazard requiring mitigation in the mining and processing of talc.[17] A 2010 US FDA survey failed to find asbestos in a variety of talc-containing products.[18]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers talc (magnesium silicate) to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as an anti-caking agent in table salt in concentrations smaller than 2%.[19]
Talcum powder poisoning - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 002719.htm
Talcum powder is a powder made from a purified mineral called talc. Talcum powder poisoning may occur when someone accidentally or intentionally breathes in or swallows talcum powder.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Poisonous Ingredient
Talc
Where Found
Talc may be found in:
•Certain antiseptics
•Certain types of baby powder
•Talcum powder
•As a filler in some types in street heroin
Note: This list may not include all products containing talc.
Symptoms
Most symptoms are caused by accidental or long-term breathing in (inhaling) of talc dust, especially in infants. Breathing problems are the most common problem.
•Bladder and kidneys ◦Urine output, decreased significantly (or none)
•Eyes, ears, nose, and throat ◦Cough
◦Eye irritation
◦Throat irritation
•Gastrointestinal ◦Diarrhea
◦Vomiting
•Heart and blood ◦Collapse
◦Convulsions
◦Low blood pressure
•Lungs ◦Chest pain
◦Cough
◦Difficulty breathing
◦Lung failure
◦Rapid, shallow breathing
•Nervous system ◦Coma
◦Drowsiness
◦Fever
◦Lack of desire to do anything (lethargy)
◦Twitching of arms, hands, legs, or feet
◦Twitching of the facial muscles
•Skin ◦Blisters
◦Blue skin, lips, and fingernails
Home Care
Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
•Patient's age, weight, and condition
•Name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
•Time it was swallowed
•Amount swallowed
Poison Control
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See: Poison control center - emergency number
What to Expect at the Emergency Room
The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:
•Breathing tube
•Fluids through a vein (by IV)
•Oxygen
The person may be admitted to the hospital.
Outlook (Prognosis)
How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.
Breathing in talcum powder can lead to very serious lung problems, even death.
Use caution when using talcum powder on babies. Talc-free baby powder products are available.
Serious lung damage and cancer have also been reported in workers who have breathed in talcum powder many times over long periods of time.
Intravenous use of street heroin that contains talc may lead to heart and lung infections and serious organ damage and death.
Alternative Names
Talc poisoning; Baby powder poisoning
References
Sue YJ, Pinkert H. Baby powder, borates, and camphor. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 99.
Update Date: 2/16/2012
Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, St. Luke's / Roosevelt Hospital Center, NY, NY, and Pegasus Emergency Group (Meadowlands and Hunterdon Medical Centers), NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Baby Powder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baby powder is an astringent powder used for preventing diaper rash, as a deodorant, and for other cosmetic uses. It may be composed of talc (in which case it is also called talcum powder) or corn starch. Talcum powder is harmful if inhaled since it may cause aspiration pneumonia or granuloma.[1] Drugs such as cocaine are sometimes cut with talcum powder.[2] It is also an ingredient in counterfeit pharmaceuticals and food products as a bulking agent in order to give the appearance of a larger quantity than actually present.[3] Paediatricians generally prefer cornstarch to talc because it is unlikely to be easily inhaled.
Is it safe to use baby powder on my baby? - http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-saf ... 1519559.bc
Jo Ann Rohyans
pediatrician
Baby powder may smell and feel good, but I don't recommend it — and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends against it. Powder can cause breathing problems and serious lung damage when inhaled, and it's not always easy to keep the powder out of the air where your baby might breathe it.
This is most worrisome with talc-based powders, which have small, easily inhaled particles. Cornstarch, which has larger, coarser particles, is not as easily inhaled as talc.
There's no evidence that baby powder helps to prevent or treat diaper rash, either. The best preventive strategy is to clean and pat dry your baby's bottom at each diaper change and then apply a thin layer of protective ointment or cream.
If you wish to use powder, choose the safer cornstarch-based product. Shake the powder into your hand, away from your baby, never directly on or near her. Keep the powder container well out of your baby's reach at all times, too. You don't want it to fall over and produce a cloud of powder for her to inhale. Occasionally, you can use a medicated powder in the neck folds or groin folds as long as you don't allow it to build up.
Cornstarch
(Wikipedia)
Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch derived from the corn (maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel. Corn starch is used as a thickening agent in liquid-based foods (e.g., soup, sauces, gravies, custard); it is mixed-in with a lower-temperature liquid to form a paste or a slurry. It is sometimes preferred over flour because it forms a translucent mixture, rather than an opaque one. As the starch is heated, the molecular chains unravel, allowing them to collide with other starch chains to form a mesh, thickening the liquid (Starch gelatinization). It is usually included as an anti-caking agent in powdered sugar (10X or confectioner's sugar). Baby powder often includes cornstarch among its ingredients.[citation needed] Corn starch can be used to manufacture bioplastics. Corn starch is the preferred anti-stick agent on medical products made from natural latex, including condoms and medical gloves.[5][6]
Material Safety Data Sheet - http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925088
Starch, Corn MSDS
Section 1: Chemical Product and Company Identification
Product Name: Starch, Corn
Catalog Codes: SLS2026
CAS#: 9005-25-8
RTECS: GM5090000
TSCA: TSCA 8(b) inventory: Starch
CI#: Not available.
Synonym: Corn Starch
Chemical Name: Starch
Chemical Formula: Not available.
Contact Information:
Sciencelab.com, Inc.
14025 Smith Rd.
Houston, Texas 77396
US Sales: 1-800-901-7247
International Sales: 1-281-441-4400
Order Online: ScienceLab.com
CHEMTREC (24HR Emergency Telephone), call:
1-800-424-9300
International CHEMTREC, call: 1-703-527-3887
For non-emergency assistance, call: 1-281-441-4400
Section 2: Composition and Information on Ingredients
Composition:
Name CAS # % by Weight
Starch 9005-25-8 100
Toxicological Data on Ingredients: Not applicable.
Section 3: Hazards Identification
Potential Acute Health Effects: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of
inhalation.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: A4 (Not classifiable for human or animal.) by ACGIH. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. Repeated or prolonged exposure is
not known to aggravate medical condition.
Section 4: First Aid Measures
Eye Contact:
Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15
minutes. Get medical attention if irritation occurs.
Section 5: Fire and Explosion Data
Flammability of the Product: May be combustible at high temperature.
Auto-Ignition Temperature: Not available.
Flash Points: Not available.
Flammable Limits: Not available.
Products of Combustion: Not available.
Fire Hazards in Presence of Various Substances: Slightly flammable to flammable in presence of heat.
Explosion Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:
Risks of explosion of the product in presence of mechanical impact: Not available. Risks of explosion of the product in
presence of static discharge: Not available.
Fire Fighting Media and Instructions:
SMALL FIRE: Use DRY chemical powder. LARGE FIRE: Use water spray, fog or foam. Do not use water jet.
Special Remarks on Fire Hazards: Not available.
Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards: Not available.
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures
Small Spill:
Use appropriate tools to put the spilled solid in a convenient waste disposal container. Finish cleaning by spreading water on
the contaminated surface and dispose of according to local and regional authority requirements.
Large Spill:
Use a shovel to put the material into a convenient waste disposal container. Finish cleaning by spreading water on the
contaminated surface and allow to evacuate through the sanitary system. Be careful that the product is not present at a
concentration level above TLV. Check TLV on the MSDS and with local authorities.
Section 7: Handling and Storage
Precautions:
Keep away from heat. Keep away from sources of ignition. Empty containers pose a fire risk, evaporate the residue under a
fume hood. Ground all equipment containing material. Do not breathe dust. Keep away from incompatibles such as oxidizing
agents.
Storage: Keep container tightly closed. Keep container in a cool, well-ventilated area. Do not store above 23°C (73.4°F).
Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Engineering Controls:
Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation, or other engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommended
exposure limits. If user operations generate dust, fume or mist, use ventilation to keep exposure to airborne contaminants
below the exposure limit.
Personal Protection: Safety glasses. Lab coat. Dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent.
Gloves.
Personal Protection in Case of a Large Spill:
Splash goggles. Full suit. Dust respirator. Boots. Gloves. A self contained breathing apparatus should be used to avoid
inhalation of the product. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this
product.
Exposure Limits:
TWA: 10 (mg/m3) from ACGIH (TLV) [United States] [1999] Inhalation Total. TWA: 10 (mg/m3) [Canada] Inhalation Total.
TWA: 10 (mg/m3) from NIOSH Inhalation Total. TWA: 5 (mg/m3) from NIOSH Inhalation Respirable. TWA: 15 (mg/m3) from
OSHA (PEL) [United States] Inhalation Total. TWA: 5 (mg/m3) from OSHA (PEL) [United States] Inhalation Respirable.Consult
local authorities for acceptable exposure limits.
Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties
Physical state and appearance: Solid.
Odor: Not available.
Taste: Not available.
Molecular Weight: Not available.
Color: White.
pH (1% soln/water): Not applicable.
Boiling Point: Not available.
Melting Point: Decomposes.
Critical Temperature: Not available.
Specific Gravity: 1.5 (Water = 1)
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable.
Vapor Density: Not available.
Volatility: Not available.
Odor Threshold: Not available.
Water/Oil Dist. Coeff.: Not available.
Ionicity (in Water): Not available.
Dispersion Properties: Not available.
Solubility: Insoluble in cold water, hot water.
Section 10: Stability and Reactivity Data
Stability: The product is stable.
Instability Temperature: Not available.
Conditions of Instability: Excess heat, incompatible materials.
Incompatibility with various substances: Reactive with oxidizing agents.
Corrosivity: Not available.
Special Remarks on Reactivity: Not available.
Special Remarks on Corrosivity: Not available.
Polymerization: Will not occur.
Section 11: Toxicological Information
Routes of Entry: Inhalation. Ingestion.
Toxicity to Animals:
LD50: Not available. LC50: Not available.
Chronic Effects on Humans: CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: A4 (Not classifiable for human or animal.) by ACGIH.
Other Toxic Effects on Humans: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.
Special Remarks on Toxicity to Animals: Not available.
Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans: Not available.
Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans:
Acute Potential Health Effects: Skin: May cause mild skin irritation. Low hazard for usual industrial handling. Eyes: Dust may
cause mechanical irritation. Inhalation: Excessive inhalation may cause minor respiratory irritation. Ingestion: A low hazard for
usual industrial handling Chronic Potential Health Effects: no information.
Section 12: Ecological Information
Ecotoxicity: Not available.
BOD5 and COD: Not available.
Products of Biodegradation:
Possibly hazardous short term degradation products are not likely. However, long term degradation products may arise.
Toxicity of the Products of Biodegradation: Not available.
Special Remarks on the Products of Biodegradation: Not available.
Section 13: Disposal Considerations
Waste Disposal:
Waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local environmental control regulations.
Section 14: Transport Information
DOT Classification: Not a DOT controlled material (United States).
Identification: Not applicable.
Special Provisions for Transport: Not applicable.
Section 15: Other Regulatory Information
Federal and State Regulations:
Rhode Island RTK hazardous substances: Starch Pennsylvania RTK: Starch Minnesota: Starch Massachusetts RTK: Starch
Tennessee: Starch TSCA 8(b) inventory: Starch
Other Regulations: EINECS: This product is on the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances.
Other Classifications:
WHMIS (Canada): Not controlled under WHMIS (Canada).
DSCL (EEC):
This product is not classified according to the EU regulations. S24/25- Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
HMIS (U.S.A.):
Health Hazard: 1
Fire Hazard: 1
Reactivity: 0
Personal Protection: E
National Fire Protection Association (U.S.A.):
Health: 1
Flammability: 1
Reactivity: 0
Specific hazard:
Protective Equipment:
Gloves. Lab coat. Dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Safety glasses.
Section 16: Other Information
References: Not available.
Other Special Considerations: Not available.
Created: 10/09/2005 06:39 PM
Last Updated: 05/21/2013 12:00 PM
The information above is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available to us. However, we
make no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, express or implied, with respect to such information, and we assume
no liability resulting from its use. Users should make their own investigations to determine the suitability of the information for
their particular purposes. In no event shall ScienceLab.com be liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any third party or for
lost profits or any special, indirect, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages, howsoever arising, even if ScienceLab.com
has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Brief summary about the powder mediums:
Talcum powder is a mineral which can become easily airborne and cause respiratory trouble or ailments, even though consumer talc has been rid of its asbestos content. Many older studies link talcum powder use in large quantities to several different types of internal organ cancer. Talc is softer and finer than cornstarch.
Cornstarch, a processed food byproduct, and although slightly coarser than talc, can still cause respiratory trouble, but to a much lesser degree. Cornstarch is a natural product, is subject to decomposition (in other words it eventually ‘goes bad’), and may become a food source for biological microbes and parasites.
Baby powder, a product which can either be made of talcum powder or cornstarch, or a combination of those two as well as fragrances, not to mention additional constituents; medical, cosmetic or otherwise, may contain the pluses and minuses of either product that the baby powder contains.
All three of these products have versions on the market with fragrances in them. Some people are allergic to certain fragrance compounds, which may make any of these products containing them a potential health hazard. It also may be worth mentioning that all three of these products even without fragrances or additional constituents, could potentially cause skin irritation for individuals who have sensitivities to their primary ingredients.
Although each of these products seems to have meritorious characteristics, none of them seem to be perfect for human/doll use. (Perfection is subjective?)
The product that seems to have the least complaints/hazards would be cornstarch.
If anything, this bit of research may dispel some misconceptions about these powder mediums.
Questionnaire
I sent a questionnaire to five US silicone doll manufacturers, asking them to tell what product they recommend for powdering, mode of application and reason for applying the powder medium. All five answered the survey, and three of the five answered most of the actual questions asked.
Opening posted question to various US silicone doll makers:
“Hello, my username on the doll forum is Lemm. Just a quick question:
Do you recommend powdering your dolls, using talcum powder or cornstarch, preferred method of application and why?
That's it. I hope to hear back from you at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your time.
Lemminkainen”
Below are the results of the questionnaire. Representative, specific product and company names have been omitted to maintain anonymity.
Results:
This section being withheld for the time being to confirm permission to post. I'll post this info as authorizations arrive.
Additional evidence/research sought after:
Another aspect of this report is that the mention of cornstarch being “coarser than talc”, and talcum powder having a “Mohs hardness scale measurement of 1 out of 10”, (meaning the softest in mineral hardness) there is still no evidence that I have found to compare the two against each other as far as a favored medium to reduce abrasion against platinum silicone... so no conclusion there.
...especially on the breasts 
to create a skin surface that doesn't need powdering, but is soft, not sticky, and doesn't peel.
oops), and two recommend cornstarch only.
At this time, authorization was granted by 3 of the five doll makers to print their answers publicly. One required that their name must appear with the statement. - see below. 
... might happen to a smoking hot doll!
At this time, I'm sending an email to them for their report on the qualities of a new blend of platinum silicone, their intended results with it, and differences in comparison to the previous type used. Let's see what I get back!
moving on...
