Several baby powder cancer lawsuits allege that companies like Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about the risk of ovarian cancer associated with talcum powder.

While it’s true that talc in its natural, unrefined form contains asbestos, refinement of raw talc removes the asbestos. Today in the United States, all talc-based consumer products are supposed to be asbestos-free.

Early research suggested that the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer might not be related to any lingering asbestos, but rather with the talc itself. In 1971, researchers in Great Britain analyzed tissue from 13 different ovarian tumors and found particles of talc embedded in 10 of them.

Later, a study published in the July 1982 issue of the medical journal Cancer reported finding evidence supportive of an association between talc and ovarian cancer.

The researchers speculated the relationship could have something to do with the similarities between talc and asbestos, and also those between ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, a disease associated with asbestos exposure.

Then, in 1999, a report published in the May issue of the International Journal of Cancer concluded that there is “a significant association between the use of talc in genital hygiene and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.”

The authors estimated that avoiding use of talc in genital hygiene could reduce the occurrence of a highly lethal form of cancer by at least 10 percent. They concluded that consumer warnings about the risk of talcum powder cancer were warranted.

Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

While overall the scientific research has not been conclusive, some women who developed ovarian cancer have begun seeking recourse through baby powder cancer lawsuits.

The first such case to go to trial ended in October 2013 with mixed results. Plaintiff Deanne B. alleged she developed ovarian cancer after years of using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder, both talc-based products made by defendant Johnson & Johnson.

Deanne’s baby powder cancer lawsuit claimed that despite the scientific evidence suggesting a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, J&J had never made an effort to warn consumers about that possible risk.

Deanne was able to convince a Minnesota jury that J&J was negligent in failing to warn consumers about the risk of baby powder cancer. The same jury awarded her no damages, however.

Despite those mixed results, the finding of negligence on J&J’s part has apparently encouraged other women to bring their own claims. One baby powder cancer lawsuit going on now in a St. Louis court is being brought by over 50 different plaintiffs from around the country.

These plaintiffs claim that they developed ovarian cancer as a result of their use of J&J talcum powder products. They say that had J&J warned them about the risk of baby powder cancer, they would have avoided using these products.

In addition to J&J, mining company Imerys Talc America is named as a defendant. Imerys allegedly supplied J&J with the talc used in its talcum powder products. So far the court has denied two attempts by Imerys to get the claims against it dismissed.

Trial in this baby powder cancer lawsuit is scheduled to begin in February 2016.