A class action lawsuit claims that Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder is unsafe and that the women who it use are at a greater risk for ovarian cancer.

The baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit filed by plaintiffs Denis Mikhlin and Erin Hoffmann cites studies that one of the ingredients of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, talc, also known as talcum powder, increases the risk for ovarian cancer among women. “As numerous studies have confirmed, Johnson’s Baby Powder leads to a significant increased risk of ovarian cancer. Women who used talc-based powders to powder their genital area have a 33% increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those women who never used the powders,” the baby powder lawsuit states.

“Despite the potential catastrophic health consequences, [Johnson and Johnson] does not tell consumers about the dangers associated with the talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder,” the baby powder cancer lawsuit continues. “Instead, the defendants continue to expressly and impliedly represent that the product is safe and intended for women to use the Baby Powder in the very manner most likely to result in an increased risk of ovarian cancer.”

Mikhlin and Hoffman allege that the health care giant was aware of the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer for more than 30 years but intentionally failed to warn consumers of the risk of ovarian cancer. In fact, the lawsuit alleges that, “In an August 12, 1982, New York Times article titled ‘Talcum Company Calls Study on Cancer Link Inconclusive,’ defendants admitted being aware of the 1982 Cramer study that concluded women were three times more likely to contract ovarian cancer after daily use of talcum powder in the genital area.”

Talc and Ovarian Cancer Risk

The American Cancer Society notes on its website that it is possible that talc applied to the genital area to travel up the vagina through the fallopian tubes to the ovaries, where it could develop into cancer.

Talc is the main ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. Johnson & Johnson does not warn consumers on the labels of its talc-containing products that use could increase their risk of cancer, nor does the company believe it is necessary to add a warning. Yet, according to one researcher, talc-containing products could be the cause of as many as 10,000 new diagnoses of ovarian cancer each year.

The current baby powder lawsuit comes after many similar lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. A woman from South Dakota with ovarian cancer was the first to bring forward a claim against Johnson & Johnson for its baby powder. Since then, many similar baby powder lawsuits have been filed.