Pittsburgh PA Talcum Powder Injury Claim Attorney

Talcum Powder Linked to Ovarian Cancer

According to multiple reports, products containing talcum powder have been linked to women developing ovarian cancer. Research performed on products including Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Body Powder suggests that talc can migrate into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries when the powder is applied for feminine hygiene purposes. Allegations raised in talcum powder lawsuits suggest inadequate warnings were provided about the potential health risks tied to the use of talcum powder and that manufacturers placed their desire for profits ahead of consumer safety by withholding important information about potential cancer risks from the public for years.

More than 1,200 Lawsuits Against Johnson & Johnson

There are more than 1,200 civil suits pending against Johnson & Johnson related to the company’s products containing talcum, according to the Associated Press. One settled case awarded the family of a Missouri woman who lost her battle with ovarian cancer, which she claimed was the result of using the company’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower powder, $72 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Despite the court’s ruling and numerous allegations, Johnson & Johnson stands firm in their defense of talcum-based products and told ABC News in a statement this past February they believe their powder “meets the highest quality, purity, and compliance standards.”

Evidence submitted in this trial included an internal memo dated September 1997 from a Johnson & Johnson medical consultant suggesting a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. In this memo, the consultant reportedly wrote that anyone who denied the risk between hygienic talc powder use and ovarian cancer would be “denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary,” according to the Associated Press.

In May 2016, a court in South Dakota ruled that Johnson & Johnson pay $55 million in compensatory and punitive damages in a separate lawsuit involving a woman claiming the same allegations, The New York Daily News reported. This woman’s cancer is currently in remission. Johnson & Johnson plan to appeal the court’s decision in this case.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with 20,000 women being diagnosed with the illness each year. It accounts for 3% of all cancers in women. Initial findings that linked talcum powder to ovarian cancer were discovered in 1982. A more recent study released after the February verdict in the aforementioned case supported these findings and concluded that applying talcum powder products to genitals, underwear, and sanitary napkins could increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer by a third.

Free Case Evaluation

Talcum powder is a common household item and is widely used in cosmetic products, including adult body and facial powders, designed to keep skin dry and protect against rashes. Talc, one of the powder’s chief ingredients, is a mineral that consists of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. According to the American Cancer Society, some talc contains asbestos, a substance that has been linked to cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled, although this type of talc is not used in modern consumer powders. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has used products containing talcum powder, contact us at 1-800-777-4081 for a free case evaluation.