Although talc is a common household product, many consumers may be unaware of exactly what talc is, or whether the product is safe.

What is talc powder?

Talc powder is a personal hygiene product marketed to prevent rashes in babies. It’s also often used by women for cosmetic or personal hygiene purposes.

What is talc powder made from?

Talc powder is made from talc, the softest known mineral on the earth. Talc is mined from the earth, often near other minerals such as asbestos.

In what products is talc powder found?

While many people know that talc is the main ingredient in baby powder, talc is also found in many other common products. The mineral is used in the production of leather, paper, ceramics, paint, plastics, roofing, flooring, rubber, textiles, and cosmetics. It may be found in insulation, asphalt shingles, caulk, candy, gum, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, foam packaging, eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, and pressed powder.

Talc is often used to increase the low electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, or oil and grease absorption of many products. It may also be used to enhance the softness, fragrance retention, or moisture absorption of cosmetics, as well as making these products feel silky or smooth.

Is talc safe?

Talc itself is generally not associated with serious health issues. However, as the mineral is often mined near asbestos or other hazardous materials, it may be easily contaminated. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral known to be carcinogenic to humans.

Asbestos particles may mix with talc during the mining process, and wind up in common household products including baby powder or cosmetics. Contaminated talc may pose a health threat if inhaled or ingested.

Health problems linked to talc powder

If talc is ingested or inhaled, it may lead to several adverse health consequences. Consumers who wonder about the safety of talc may want to be aware of the potential side effects associated with the mineral.

If talc is contaminated with asbestos, the mineral particles may settle in the lungs or the lining of the abdomen and lead to lung problems, mesothelioma, or lung cancer. Talc powder that has been used for personal hygiene purposes by women may result in ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer.

As the cancers caused by these particles may take many years or decades to develop, many people who have been harmed by contaminated talc powder may be unaware of these side effects until much later.

Symptoms of mesothelioma or lung cancer may include chest pain, a painful cough, shortness of breath, lumps of tissue under the skin, abdominal pain or swelling, and weight loss. Symptoms of ovarian or endometrial cancer may include abdominal bloating, pelvic pain, and changes to bowel and urinary habits.

Have talc powder products been recalled?

In late 2018, Johnson & Johnson issued a recall covering 33,000 bottles of its talc-based baby powder product, “out of an abundance of caution,” the company said, when trace amounts of asbestos were found in the product. Despite years of litigation, this is the first actual recall the company has issued over its baby powder.

The FDA notes that better testing of the talc products is needed.

In addition to recalls, the use of talc in beauty products has declined for other reasons. Reuters explains that some companies have moved away from using talc in various beauty products because of the negative associations that the product caries.

This pressure has inspired companies to get creative and find alternatives to this beauty staple. Companies who have taken these steps include Chanel, L’Oreal, and Revlon. These companies have all come under legal fire for their talc products, from customers who say that the companies’ talc products contain asbestos.

Chanel representative Amy Wyatt stated in a deposition that Chanel maintains that its talc powder was safe, but “determined from public perception to remove it from the market,” quotes Reuters.

Additionally, Chanel reportedly decided to eliminate talc from its loose face powder, but has not yet released the product with a replacement ingredient, says Reuters.

However, Chanel has not removed talc from all of its products, leaving it in products like blush, eye shadow, and pressed powder. According to the company, the talc present in these products “is selected according to strict purity criteria, fully complies with current global regulations, and is safe under standard conditions of cosmetic use.”

For its part, Revlon reportedly removed talc from body products but did not provide information on why that choice was made or when the company decided to change its products. L’Oreal is reportedly in the process of finding what is talc powder’s possible successor. However, a representative for L’Oreal stated that no alternatives have yet been identified that provide comparable performance.

Can I file a talc powder lawsuit?

A growing number of people are coming forward with allegations that they have developed cancer after long-term exposure to talc-based products, especially baby powder products. Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has faced a slew of lawsuits over baby powder cancer allegations. The company has paid millions in talc powder cases. Recently, back in February, a New Jersey jury ordered the company to pay $750 million in punitive damages to four plaintiffs who alleged the company’s baby powder products caused a rare cancer.

Johnson & Johnson continues to face thousands of additional claims. Plaintiffs allege that their exposure to talc-based baby powder led to their cancer diagnoses and that Johnson & Johnson knew about the risk for decades, but failed to warn consumers, placing company profit over consumer safety.

The Motley Fool discusses the financial impact of these claims against Johnson & Johnson. Reportedly, the company is still equipped to handle the lawsuits that have come its way in light of asbestos-contaminated talc powder claims. However, this could change as lawsuits continue to be filed.

Already, the company has shelled out to be rid of such claims. In June 2020, a court determined that the company would have to pay $2.1 billion to compensate a group of women who say that they developed ovarian cancer after using talc products made by Johnson & Johnson.

Though the $2.2 billion verdict is significant, originally the court determined that the company should pay $4.7 billion, an amount later reduced to the $2.1 billion. Johnson & Johnson attempted to appeal this award but, in 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court denied to hear the company’s appeal.

Penalties like these could signal bankruptcy for a company, but for now, Johnson & Johnson can withstand them. The company reported a profit of $15.1 billon in 2019, and a free cash flow of $191.9 billion, notes The Motley Fool.

However, if more courts determine that Johnson & Johnson should be held liable in these instances, they may see more and more unfavorable verdicts.

Imreys Talc America, a major talc supplier for Johnson & Johnson, has already filed bankruptcy as a result of numerous lawsuits launched against it in the talc, asbestos issue. Bloomberg explains how in Imreys case, the company used bankruptcy to shield itself from the over 14,000 lawsuits filed against it over the last decade. 

Motley Fool notes that in the case of Johnson & Johnson, however, the company’s financial future could be imperiled because the lawsuits could shake the company’s reputation, making investors less likely to contribute. Additionally, the company may also face damaging litigation on other fronts, including the opioid crisis, says the news source.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos or talc-related cancer or medical condition, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your injuries. Hiring a qualified attorney and filing a class action lawsuit may be the first step towards pursuing compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with medical complications like cancer, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.