As concerns about baby powder and ovarian cancer lead to baby powder cancer lawsuits, researchers have begun to look for links between baby powder and other types of cancer.

There are two main types of baby powder on the market: talc-based baby powder and cornstarch-based baby powder. Talc-based baby powder has been alleged to cause ovarian cancer. Talcum powder is based on a naturally occurring mineral: talc. Talc is chemically similar to asbestos, a well-known carcinogen. Some studies have suggested that talcum powder, when applied to the genitals, can cause an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Now, researchers are look at other possible baby powder-related cancers.

In 2010, the peer-reviewed medical journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention published a study called “Perineal Use of Talcum Powder and Endometrial Cancer Risk.” In this study, researchers used data collected in the Nurses’ Health Study, which included 66,028 nurses who responded to a medical survey. Of these women, 599 cases of endometrial cancer were reported. The survey also assessed if the nurses used talcum powder on their genitals. After analysis, researchers noted a link.

When researchers compared the risk of cancer in women who didn’t use baby powder versus the risk of cancer in women who used baby powder, they found that for those that did there was a 21 percent increase in the women’s risk of developing endometrial cancer. Additionally, researchers found evidence of dose dependence. A dose-dependent relationship increases the strength of associations in research observations. In this case, it means that women who used baby powder more often had a higher risk of endometrial cancer.

Despite the correlation between using baby powder on genitals and cancers like ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, some medical companies have actively marketed talcum powder-based products for use on the genitals. This includes medical behemoth Johnson & Johnson, who marketed a product called Shower to Shower. This has led to a baby powder cancer class action lawsuit investigation to explore the possibility of legal action over baby powder cancer.

Such a lawsuit could allege that Johnson & Johnson knew—or reasonably should have known—of the potential link between baby powder and cancers like ovarian cancer. Indeed, some studies suggesting a link between baby powder and ovarian cancer date back to the 1970s. Such a baby powder cancer lawsuit could further allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately protect the public from the risk of ovarian cancer due to baby powder. Similar drug lawsuits have sought to recoup the costs of medical care, lost wages, legal fees, and other costs allegedly linked to the conduct of medical companies.