There is an inherent trust between consumers and product manufacturers. We expect that the products we buy are safe to use as intended. When that trust is broken, and injuries occur, consumers have the right to seek a remedy. That is the basis behind the growing number of talcum powder lawsuits.
For decades, men and women have used talcum powder to reduce moisture in various parts of their bodies. More commonly known as baby powder, talcum powder absorbs moisture and reduces chafing. Women have used it frequently for feminine hygiene, and plenty of people use it to stay dry in the Southern heat, but it turns out that talcum powder is potentially dangerous.
Studies have conflicting findings as to whether talcum powder alone causes different cancers. But as recent large product liability lawsuits have accused, talcum powder might have damaged reproductive organs and caused internal inflammation for women who used it daily. Men have also claimed it caused their mesothelioma.
If you use talcum powder daily, it could be time to reach out to a Louisville talcum powder lawyer. At Thomas Law Offices, our legal team is ready to answer your questions.
What Is Talc?
Talcum powder’s main ingredient is talc, which most research studies and lawsuits focus on. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), talc is naturally mined from the earth and is composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Other than moisture control, the FDA lists that talc is used in beauty products to prevent caking, make pigments opaque, and improve a product’s feel.
Talc is chemically related to asbestos and, for a while, was also commonly combined with asbestos. As you’ve probably heard before, asbestos is toxic. Once studies showed that asbestos was not safe for people in any amount, talc was legally ordered to be asbestos-free starting in the 1970s.
Risks of Talcum Powder Use
Even though studies are not completely clear about talc’s threats, there are still possible risks if used daily. A study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) showed that talc could travel inside women’s bodies as far as their upper genital tract, like the ovaries. It also revealed that talcum powder used by women for feminine hygiene increased the risk of ovarian cancer threefold.
The danger with ovarian cancer is that it is often not diagnosed until it has reached the later stages. Here are some of the common symptoms of ovarian cancer you should be aware of:
- Back pain
- Frequent urination
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vaginal discharge or bleeding
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Feeling bloated
- Feeling full while eating
Many other studies by reputable journals over the years have reported the same risks of using talcum powder. In a controlled experiment published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 49% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer reported exposure to talc. Although talc was not the only factor that caused ovarian cancer, daily use was found to be linked to cancer.
More recently, a study done by the American Association for Cancer Research in 2016 concluded that body powder was significantly associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. Other diseases caused by talcum powder could be endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
A 2014 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found no link between powder with talc and ovarian cancer. The discrepancies in findings of all these studies could be caused by talc that contained trace amounts of asbestos, even after it became illegal. If you use talcum powder daily, air on the side of caution and consult a doctor.
Products Containing Talc
Even though there are conflicting opinions on talc’s dangers, there are plenty of talc products involved in lawsuits where victims claim they contracted mesothelioma and other cancers. The problem could be that factories don’t test all their products as frequently as they should, so asbestos could go undetected.
Here are some of the products that could be harmful:
- Shower-to-Shower
- Clubman Pinaud Talc
- McKesson Baby Powder
- Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder
- Gold Bond Medicated Powder
- Cashmere Bouquet
Though not involved in lawsuits at the moment, products that contain talc could include makeup, vitamins, supplements, deodorant, and some foods. A 2009 FDA study of talc-containing makeup products determined that there was no asbestos in the products. However, the study did not address whether or not talc alone was dangerous.
Even though we still allow talc in the United States, it is cosmetically restricted in the European Union. Since it is inconclusive if talc itself is harmful, make sure that any products you use that contain talc are asbestos-free. Also, don’t use any products for the pelvic area that contain talc, just as a precaution. If you have used any of these products and developed serious diseases or cancers from them, you could have a product liability claim. A Louisville talcum powder lawyer is ready to assess your claim.
Talcum Powder in the News
Recent news has brought to light many cases against big corporations whose talc powder products might have caused consumers’ cancer. Johnson & Johnson claims its talc is safe, but recent lawsuits decided differently. Although Johnson & Johnson claims to test its talc for asbestos, it could be letting trace amounts slip by.
In March 2019, Johnson & Johnson was forced by a judge to award a California woman and her husband $25 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages because the couple claimed that asbestos in their talc powders caused their mesothelioma.
Then in June 2018, Johnson & Johnson was forced to award 22 women and their families $4.69 billion over claims that asbestos in their talc products caused their ovarian cancers. The juries determined Johnson & Johnson was responsible because they did not warn consumers that their talc products could be dangerous. Approximately 14,000 similar cases have been filed.
Johnson & Johnson argues that their talc hasn’t had asbestos since the 1970s when it became legally required to be asbestos-free. They agree they should have used a disclaimer on their baby powder, but the company denies a cancer risk in talc. They have filed for appeals in all of their cases because their studies don’t show links between talc and ovarian cancer.
As reported by CBS News, in June 2024, Johnson & Johnson reached a $700 million nationwide settlement in the talc baby powder case. This settlement could mean changing manufacturing and providing a remedy for the plaintiffs who have already signed onto the class action lawsuit. Forty-three state attorneys general signed off on this agreement. Does that mean the end of the lawsuits?
From the report, “In a statement, J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, Erik Hass, said the company “continues to pursue several paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc litigation. That progress includes the finalization of a previously announced agreement that the Company reached with a consortium of 43 State Attorneys Generals to resolve their talc claims. We will continue to address the claims of those who do not want to participate in our contemplated consensual bankruptcy resolution through litigation or settlement.”
Louisville Public Media reported that Kentucky will receive $9.3 million as part of the settlement. However, according to the report, “the settlement funds allocated to Kentucky will go into the state’s General Fund, where the legislature can choose how to spend it. Johnson & Johnson also agreed to stop manufacturing, promoting, or selling products containing talcum powder in the United States.”
These developments mean speaking with a qualified Louisville talcum powder lawsuit attorney will help you decide on the best option for your circumstances.
Our Louisville Talcum Powder Lawyer Is Available to Help
Have you developed mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, or lung cancer after using baby powder frequently? These serious diseases are life-altering, and nobody deserves to experience them. If you suspect talcum powder is the cause of your cancer, you could use the help of a Louisville product liability lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today. Thomas Law Offices can focus on the legal side of things while you get treatment. Our Louisville talcum powder lawyer is ready to assist with your case.
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