Another woman is suing Johnson & Johnson, claiming she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s baby powder in her genital area for more more than 30 years. It is the latest in a growing number of baby powder cancer lawsuits that accuse manufacturers of failing to warn consumers about the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

In a Johnson’s baby powder lawsuit filed October 16, plaintiffs Karen and Norris Broussard claim that Johnson & Johnson’s inadequate warnings about baby powder danger when applied to the genitals resulted in Mrs. Broussard’s ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Broussard claims she used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder in her pelvic area from approximately 1980 to May 2014, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Broussard alleges in the baby powder cancer lawsuit that Johnson & Johnson was previously aware of the ovarian cancer risk from talcum powder use. Had she been adequately warned, Broussard claims she never would have used the product in the manner she did.

Talc-Based Baby Powder Danger

Multiple studies suggest that talcum powder can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder is an important ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower, another product brought up in baby powder lawsuits.

According to research, talcum powder particles can travel into the body when talc is applied in the pelvic area. It triggers inflammation which then allows cancer cells to grow.

A study published in Cancer Prevention Research suggests that women who use talc-based products, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower, on their genitals increase their risk of ovarian cancer by 20%-30%. And talcum powder has been listed as a “possible carcinogen” by The International Agency for Research on Cancer. Some experts compare talcum powder to asbestos (a substance which can cause a deadly cancer).

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

A number of product liability lawsuits have been filed over the past year accusing manufacturers of failing to adequately warn about this potential baby powder danger. The American Cancer Society estimates that thousands of new ovarian cancer cases will be diagnosed this year. Studies have found that many women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer say they use baby powder for hygienic reasons.

Women, like Broussard, have taken legal action against Johnson & Johnson, who allegedly has known about baby powder cancer risks since the 1980s.

In October 2013, the first baby powder cancer lawsuit went to trial, leading the way for other baby powder lawsuits. Broussard claims that Johnson & Johnson should have provided better warnings on their baby powder products and is seeking appropriate damages.