Talcum powder products, like those manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, are commonly used as an effective absorbent for a woman’s personal hygiene routine.

However, some research suggests that using talcum powder on the genitals can cause tumors in the ovaries, leading to serious baby powder injuries such as ovarian cancer.

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 tumors and have found that some women with ovarian cancer have used baby powder in their genital are more frequently than healthy women.

A growing number of ovarian cancer lawsuits involving alleged baby powder injuries have been filed by women who say manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson of failing to warn about the risk of ovarian cancer from using talcum powder.

Studies Link Baby Powder Use to Cancer

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

Many of these studies were conducted decades ago, but one of the more recent studies suggest that women who use talcum powder are 40 percent 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 percent, rising to 41percent for those applying powder daily.

The question of ovarian cancer risk among women who use baby powder has not been settled. Some studies have shown a small increased risk and other investigations have shown none.

However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a part of the World Health Organization, classifies the use of talc-based powders on the genital region as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

Although the additional risk, if any, of developing ovarian cancer would be very small, the American Cancer Society suggests that women may want to avoid or limit the use of feminine hygiene products containing talc.

Baby Powder Cancer Risk

Despite evidence presented by scientific studies linking talcum powder to diseases like ovarian and lung cancer, talc is an unregulated substance in the United States.

However, many other organizations have issued talcum powder cancer warnings to caution consumers about the risk of cancer associated with baby powder. At times, even executives from the cosmetics industry have admitted there is scientific evidence behind the baby powder cancer link.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) said that a 2008 study, linking higher usage of talcum powder to increased risk of cancer, showed the powder “probably” increased the risk for cancer and deemed it a “possible” carcinogen. The ACS compared talcum powder to asbestos, postmenopausal hormone therapy and radiation.

Help for Those Affected by Baby Powder Injuries

Despite the mounting evidence of serious baby powder injuries associated with use of talcum powder, major manufacturers of talcum powder products, like Johnson & Johnson, do not warn consumers of the potential dangers.

Baby powder lawsuits filed by women and their loved ones who feel they were injured by talcum powder are making their way through the court system, with juries handing down substantial verdicts for plaintiffs just in the past six months.

If you or a loved one suffered baby powder injuries such as ovarian cancer, you may be eligible to file a products liability lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for compensation for your injuries.  An experienced baby powder cancer attorney can review your case at no charge and advise you of your legal options.