Imerys Talc, Johnson & Johnson, and a number of other manufacturers are facing a new talcum powder cancer lawsuit alleging the presence of asbestos in talc products produced and sold by the companies.

The Pennsylvania plaintiff, Rosemarie S., says she developed mesothelioma due to asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower Powder products, which she used regularly for more than four decades.

According to her lawsuit, Rosemarie used talcum powder products from 1975 to 2018. She’s not alone. For decades, women have used talc for a variety of uses, such as to treat dry skin, rash and diaper rash.

Talcum powder has also long been a go-to product for personal feminine hygiene. Women like Rosemarie claim Johnson & Johnson for years encouraged women to apply the powder on their genital area for  a “clean” and “fresh” feeling, without warning them of a serious risk to their health.

Rosemarie’s suit claims that during all the years she used talc, she never knew it might be contaminated with asbestos.

As a result of regular exposure, Rosemarie says, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018 and has been battling the disease ever since.

Overview of Talc Powder Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly type of cancer specifically caused by asbestos exposure. “The cancer occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium),” according to the Mayo Clinic. Mesothelioma takes between 20 to 60 years, or longer, to show symptoms.

Asbestos is inhaled or swallowed into the lungs, which happens when the fibers are released into the air. Patients tend to be diagnosed at a latent stage, limiting the treatment opinions.

For years asbestos in talc has been a public concern. Talc, a soft mineral that absorbs moisture and decreases friction, is often found in nature with naturally-occurring asbestos nearby.

The American Cancer Society explains that some forms of talc contain asbestos in its natural form. This information spurred the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA) in 1976 to issue voluntary guidelines calling for talc used in cosmetic products in the United States be free of  “detectable amounts of asbestos,” according to the trade organization’s standards.

Even though asbestos in talc poses very serious health risks to consumers, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn the public of the risk.

This risk of asbestos disease adds to a growing pile of litigation over baby powder products, much of which addresses a possible link between talc itself and ovarian cancer. Since the early 1970s, a plethora of scientific inquiries have found that women face an increased risk of ovarian cancer when applying talcum powder to their genital area. According to the National Center for Health Research, “women who have used talcum powder are about 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer than women who have not.”

Researchers believe that when applied to the genital area, talc particles are able to enter the bloodstream, and can eventually become embedded in the ovaries. This can later develop into ovarian cancer.

This Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00457-LPL, in the Court of Common Pleas Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.