What are the Issues Associated with Baby Powder with Talc? A growing body of evidence suggests that using powders containing talc for feminine hygiene can increase a woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer. The more years a woman has used talcum powder, the higher her chances of developing ovarian cancer. On average, about one in every 75 women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. Unfortunately, unlike breast cancer, there are no early screening tests for ovarian cancer which means most cases of ovarian cancer are discovered in the later stages. The studies on baby powder ovarian cancer have placed the risk of ovarian cancer for a woman using talcum powder for feminine hygiene (for a significant length of time) at about 30 percent higher than for women who have not used talc in the perineal region.
A New England ovarian cancer study suggests the body develops cancer as a result of the inflammation caused by the talc fibers. More than two thousand women living in Massachusetts and New Hampshire who had received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer were compared to 1,578 women of the same age and geographic location who did not have cancer. The women who had used talc in the genital area were significantly more likely to receive a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. The women who used talc for feminine hygiene were about 33 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer—rather than a 1.3 percent lifetime risk, a woman using talcum powder in the perineal region has a 1.7 percent lifetime risk.
Further, more recent studies are posing the question as to whether the talc found in powders like J & J baby powder with talc and Shower to Shower with talc may also contain asbestos—a known carcinogen. Talc is the softest mineral on earth, used primarily in talcum powder. Talc and asbestos are often found in the same areas, therefore, there is the potential for contamination, despite the fact that the CTFA issued guidelines in 1976 that stated all talc used in cosmetic products in the U.S. should be free of any level of asbestos.
What are the Dangers Associated with Talc? Dr. Daniel Cramer, of Harvard University, is one of three doctors who have testified for plaintiffs in the Johnson & Johnson baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits. Cramer has studied the link between talc and cancer for 30 years, testifying that talc is probably a contributing factor in at least 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year. After Cramer’s first study on the talc-cancer association, he followed up in 1985 with an article that called for companies like Johnson & Johnson to place a warning label on their talcum powder product—a move J & J refused to consider, maintaining their talc products were absolutely safe.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled talc as a “possible carcinogen,” in 2010, claiming a number of studies supported the idea that talc could potentially cause ovarian cancer. The theory behind talc and ovarian cancer is that when women sprinkle talcum powder in the genital region, on their underwear, or on feminine products, the microscopic talc fibers enter the reproductive system, traveling up to the ovaries where they burrow in, causing inflammation. Since inflammation is a known cause of cancer, over time those talc fibers could result in enough inflammation to result in ovarian cancer.
A Reuters investigation in 2018 examined J & J’s internal reports, company memos, and confidential documents from 1971 through the early 2000s. According to these documents, researchers from Mount Sinai told J & J officials that traces of asbestos had been found in J & J’s Baby Powder with talc. According to the documents, J & J claimed the small amounts of asbestos found in samples of the talc-based products was not enough to cause any worry, lobbying the FDA to agree with their assessment.
What is the FDA’s Stance on Talc Safety? The FDA has largely held itself above the baby powder ovarian cancer fray, as the agency has little control over cosmetics and beauty products. Because of this, there has been no formal recall of Johnson & Johnson talc-based products including J & J Baby Powder with talc and Shower to Shower with talc. Throughout the years, while other companies that sold powders with talc have switched to cornstarch in the interests of safety, Johnson & Johnson—while also making a cornstarch powder—continued marketing their talc-based products as well.
Yet in May 2020, Johnson & Johnson pulled all their talc-based products from the markets in the United States and Canada. While still refusing to admit the talc-based products were unsafe in any way, J & J attributed the move to the “barrage of litigation” the company has faced over the past decade which resulted in a drop in sales revenues. (In 2018, the iconic J & J Baby Powder with talc was bringing in more than 400 million dollars a year).
What You Need to Know About Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits - Manufacturers of dangerous products can be held liable for the injuries caused by their products. Many women are taking legal action against the makers of talc-based powders; the first lawsuit was filed in 2009; at present, there are more than 20,000 pending lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. J & J has staunchly defended its talcum powder, maintaining it is perfectly safe.
Every win on the part of a plaintiff has resulted in J & J appealing the verdict. In 2018, a group of 22 women won their baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and were awarded a settlement in the billions of dollars. Johnson & Johnson appealed the decision, then in June 2020, a Missouri Appeals Court upheld the original decision. Johnson & Johnson has vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court. It is expected that women across the United States will continue filing baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson in the coming months and years.
Getting Help from an Experienced Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer - If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with baby powder ovarian cancer, it is important that you contact an experienced baby powder ovarian cancer attorney who can help you through this difficult time. If you believe you may have a claim, it is important that you contact an attorney as quickly as possible. The statutes of limitations in your state could limit the window of time you have to file a claim, therefore, it is important that you discuss this with your baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer.
The highly-skilled, experienced baby powder ovarian cancer lawyers from Sullo & Sullo are ready to discuss your potential claim, helping you decide whether a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit is right for you. If you are a woman in any of the following cities and states who believes your ovarian cancer diagnosis is the result of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder with talc, a Sullo & Sullo attorney is ready and waiting to answer your questions and help you make decisions for your future.
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Tucson, Arizona
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Fresno, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Washington, DC
- Miami, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Boise, Idaho
- Aurora, Illinois
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Wichita, Kansas
- Lexington, Kentucky
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Portland, Maine
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Detroit, Michigan
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Billings, Montana
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Manchester, New Hampshire
- Newark, New Jersey
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Buffalo, New York
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Columbus, Ohio
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Portland, Oregon
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Austin, Texas
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Burlington, Vermont
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Seattle, Washington
- Charleston, West Virginia
- Milwaukee Wisconsin
- Cheyenne, Wyoming