A recently filed federal lawsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi US and other talcum powder manufacturers including Sanofi Aventis, Imerys Talc, Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Chattem, failed to notify women that using talc products put them at greater risk of ovarian cancer

The talcum powder lawsuit was filed by the estate of Janice C., a user of talc powder since childhood, who died of ovarian cancer.

According to the talcum powder lawsuit, Janice used Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products, both manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, and Gold Bond body powder, manufactured by Chattem, since childhood without any knowledge of the 24 studies linking the use of talc powder on the female genital area to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Janice died of ovarian cancer in 2012, at the age of 63. In 1982, when she was 33, she was not aware of a key study published that year linking talc powder use on the genital area to a greater risk of ovarian cancer, the lawsuit claims.

The baby powder cancer lawsuit, filed independently by Janice’s husband, James, was filed in Somerset County Superior Court on November 5, but was removed to federal court on November 11 by lawyers for Chattem.

Talcum Powder Danger

Talcum powder has been directly used on the skin as an effective absorbent to help deodorize. The primary component in talcum powder is magnesium silicate hydroxide (commonly known as talc). Talc is the main ingredient in baby powder, medicated powder, perfumed powders and designer perfumed body powder. However, talcum powder contains asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Talc is toxic as its particles can cause tumors in the ovaries and lungs. Talc particles are capable of moving up the reproductive system and becoming embedded in the lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumor and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum powder in their genital more frequently than healthy women.

Studies Link Baby Powder To Ovarian Cancer

As early as 1961, researchers have demonstrated that particles similar to talc can translocate from the exterior genital area to the ovaries in women. And a 1968 study concluded that talc contained asbestos-like fibers.

The most recent studies suggest that women who use talcum powder are 40% more likely to get ovarian cancer. Experts from Harvard Medical School in Boston studied more than 3,000 women and found using talc merely once a week raised the risk of ovarian cancer by 36%, rising to 41% for those applying powder daily.

These studies and more have suggested that women who regularly use talcum powder on the genital area have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

Despite the mounting evidence of serious health affects with use of talcum powder, major manufacturers of talcum powder products do not warn consumers of the potential dangers. Johnson & Johnson’s marketing messages have traditionally indicated that its talc powders are safe for women to use.

Johnson & Johnson has been named in other baby powder cancer lawsuits and class action lawsuits over its failure to warn about the risk of cancer from use of talcum powder, in federal courts in California and Illinois, but the plaintiffs in those lawsuits have not been diagnosed with cancer, unlike Janice’s case.