Talcum powder use linked to ovarian cancer

Talcum powder use linked to ovarian cancer

Talc-containing personal care products have been linked to the development of ovarian cancer.

A recent series of potentially landmark personal injury cases have dealt a huge blow to the bottom line of personal hygiene and grooming product manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. These cases have also put makers of the hundreds – or even thousands – of talc-containing items on the marketplace on notice that they could be in for a similar fate. Cosmetic talc that doesn’t contain asbestos (none of which has been on the market for personal use since the 1970s) has been generally considered safe for personal use, and there are countless talc-based care products on the market, ranging from body powders to cosmetics and soap to lotion. Talc is even used by bowlers to increase traction and prevent sweaty hands from making the ball slip.

The results of several studies showing a correlation between talc products and the development of ovarian cancer led the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer to declare that “perineal use of talcum-based powder is possibly carcinogenic.”

The verdicts

The cases decided so far against Johnson & Johnson (J & J) and talc manufacturer Luzenac have resulted in more than $100 million awarded to the families of women who religiously used talc-based intimate hygiene products like J & J’s “Shower to Shower” for decades and later developed aggressive ovarian cancers. Experts disagree about the extent to which the talc contained in the products contributed to the cancer (one lawsuit cited a study showing a 92 percent greater risk of ovarian cancer because of talc products, while other studies have shown little conclusive evidentiary linkage between the two), but there was sufficient evidence to satisfy two independent juries.

There are more than 1,200 plaintiffs currently awaiting justice in similar cases, and more are being identified every day. If you or someone you love has developed ovarian cancer or another cancer because of cosmetic talc use, you may be able to recover compensation. Contact the experienced law firm of Wallace & Graham, P.A. to learn more about your legal rights. Call them toll free at 800-849-5291, or send them an email today.