Problem Summary
For decades there have been significant concerns about the potential link between talcum powder products and cancer, and a growing body of evidence suggests that Johnson & Johnson has spent years covering up the potential link between its widely-used talc-based baby powder and body powder products and potentially life-threatening side effects like ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Thousands of consumers are now suing Johnson & Johnson, alleging that they developed cancer either from being exposed to asbestos-laced talc in the company’s baby powder and body powder products, or from using talcum powder products on their genitals for feminine hygiene purposes. To date, the company faces nearly 12,000 claims that its celebrated baby powder and body powder products cause cancer.
About Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is a popular consumer product made from a mineral called talc, which is ground into a fine powder. Because it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, talc has been widely used in cosmetic products such as baby and body powders marketed as a means of keeping skin dry, preventing rashes and minimizing odors. Unfortunately, a growing body of evidence suggests that when talcum powder products are used for feminine hygiene purposes, as they were for decades by women across the country, talc particles can be absorbed by the reproductive system and cause inflammation in the ovaries, possibly leading to ovarian cancer. In fact, dozens of studies involving thousands of women have shown that regular perineal use of talcum powder can increase the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 40%.
Additionally, in its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a mineral used in thousands of domestic, industrial and commercial products that is known to cause mesothelioma and other cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled. Asbestos exposure was originally primarily a concern for workers in construction, factories and shipyards where asbestos was prevalent. When workers exposed to asbestos on the job inhaled or ingested microscopic asbestos fibers, they faced a risk of the fibers becoming lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen, where they could cause inflammation and scarring. This could damage their cells’ DNA and cause changes resulting in uncontrolled cell growth, possibly leading to mesothelioma or other forms of cancer. Today, because talc and asbestos often occur together in the earth, some mined talc may be contaminated with the carcinogen, and any consumer who uses the contaminated talc could be at risk for cancer from inhaling the talc or applying it to the genital region
In fact, dozens of studies involving thousands of women have shown that regular perineal use of talcum powder can increase the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 40%.
Talcum Powder Side Effects
The potential link between Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and asbestos dates back to 1957 and 1958, when a lab J&J hired to analyze the quality of its talc found contaminants in the talc that, in their naturally occurring fibrous form, are classified as asbestos. Asbestos use in the United States was heavily restricted in the 1970s, and in 1976, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association issued voluntary guidelines indicating that all talc-based cosmetic products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos. Still, Johnson & Johnson continued selling talcum powder products that tested positive for asbestos, while assuring regulators that its talc was asbestos-free. Not only that, the company is also accused of manipulating research on the safety of its talcum powder products and successfully influencing plans by U.S. regulators to limit asbestos in cosmetic talc products.
The American Cancer Society has stated that “Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled,” and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified talc that contains asbestos as carcinogenic to humans. The World Health Organization recognizes no safe level of asbestos exposure, but most asbestos-related problems occur after years of repeated exposure to the carcinogen, which may be the case for many women who regularly used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes. Unfortunately, cancers related to asbestos exposure typically have a long latency period, and while most people exposed to asbestos never develop cancer, some exposed to just small amounts of the substance can develop the disease years later.
For its part, J&J claims that any potential links between talc and cancer are based on inconclusive research. At the same time, internal reports, company memos and other confidential documents Johnson & Johnson has been compelled to share throughout the ongoing litigation suggest that company officials have known since the 1970s that some of the talc used in baby powder and body powder contained asbestos. According to these documents, from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, J&J’s raw talc and finished talcum powder products sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, a finding that the company deliberately withheld from regulators and the public. In light of these findings, thousands of plaintiffs are now accusing J&J of intentionally concealing the potential risk of cancer from talcum powder to protect the company’s image.
Talcum Powder Resources & Studies
- American Cancer Society Information About Talcum Powder and Cancer
- 1957 and 1958 Reports Describing Asbestos-Like Contaminants in J&J’s Talc
- J&J Ordered to Pay $4.69 Billion in Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit
- Reuters Article Claiming J&J Knew for Decades that its Talc Products Contained Asbestos
- Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that certain ingredients used in its talcum powder products sometimes contained small amounts of asbestos
- 1971 Study Examining the Link Between Talc and Ovarian and Cervical Cancers
Talcum Powder Settlements & Litigation
The first talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit was won against Johnson & Johnson in 2013, and in the years since, the company has been dealt a number of blows in the courtroom totaling more than $5 billion in plaintiff awards. In 2018, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $4.69 billion in damages to 22 women and their families in a lawsuit filed over ovarian cancer side effects allegedly tied to the company’s talcum powder products. Several other talcum powder lawsuits have involved sizable jury awards against J&J, including a $417 million verdict delivered by a Los Angeles jury in a 2017 lawsuit, and a $117 million verdict delivered by a New Jersey jury in 2018. The bulk of the litigation against J&J in recent years has been due to the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer side effects in women, but the company now faces a whole new wave of lawsuits filed by consumers diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer allegedly caused by asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products.
