The Dangers of Regular Use Of Talcum Powder

Women Who Regularly Use Talcum Powder Need to Be Aware that the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene has been linked to an elevated risk of ovarian cancer.

Talcum powder consists of extremely fine granules of talc, a naturally occuring mineral. When used on the genitals, these fine particles may enter the female reproductive system and migrate to the ovaries. Because talc is insoluble with water, talc particles that reaches the ovaries may remain intact for decades. They then can cause inflammation in the ovaries, increasing cell proliferation and leading to damage to DNA. These conditions create an environment which is friendly to the growth of cancer cells.

Dr Daniel Cramer, a Harvard epidemiologist, estimates that 10,000 American women develop ovarian cancer each year as a result of talcum powder usage. In a 1982 study {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7083145}, he showed that the risk of developing ovarian cancer amongst women doubles when women regularly use talcum dusting powder on their genital region.

Of perhaps greater concern is the issue of asbestos contamination of talcum powder. Like talc, asbestos is a naturally occuring mineral, and deposits are often found in close proximity to talc deposits. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and often causes a form of cancer known as mesothelioma which effects the delicate membrane around the lungs and other organs.

Recently, a Reuters examination of thousands of internal Johnson & Johnson documents “shows that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public. The documents also depict successful efforts to influence U.S. regulators’ plans to limit asbestos in cosmetic talc products and scientific research on the health effects of talc.” https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/14/jj-kept-a-guiding-hand-on-talc-safety-research.html)

What To Do If You’ve Been Affected

Nearly 23,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. It has been shown that asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of ovarian cancer. This exposure may come from using talcum-based powder products, like baby powder. In July 2018, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay 22 women with ovarian cancer more than $4 billion. The women filed the lawsuit because they believed their ovarian cancer was caused by using the company’s baby powder for decades.

Companies like Johnson & Johnson have known of the link to cancer since the 1970s, but did nothing to warn the public about the risk of cancer from their powder products.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, fallopian cancer, or mesothelomia and have used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder or Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower Absorbent Body Powder please use the form below. Our firm will investigate your case for you, free of charge.

About Hekmat Law Group

Hekmat Law Group is a law firm founded in 2013 dedicated to fighting for employee and consumer rights. The firm represents employees in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages and other employment matters as well as consumers ripped off through false advertising or other unfair (and unlawful) business practices. The firm has offices in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY. For additional information, please visit HekmatLaw.com.