Talc-based baby powder, a seemingly innocuous hygiene product, has been the subject of multiple recent baby powder lawsuits based on its possible link to ovarian cancer.

The active ingredient in talcum powder is the mineral talc, which contains magnesium, silicon and oxygen. Talc-based powder applied to human skin offers the benefit of absorbing moisture and reducing friction. For those reasons, talcum powder has been used for personal hygiene by both men and women for generations. However, recently studies have suggested a possible link between women’s use of talc-based products, like Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower products, near the genital area to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. These studies theorize that after application near the genitals, particles of talc are able to migrate through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes and lodge themselves in the ovaries.

Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Although results of studies on that subject have been mixed, some studies have shown that women who use talcum powder near their genital region could be 20 to 30 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer. A study published in June 2013 by Cancer Prevention Research found a “small-to-moderate” increase in risk of some types of ovarian cancer associated with talcum powder use. One other study found that genital area use of talcum powder may slightly increase the risk of endometrial cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the use of talcum powder near the genitals as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

The American Cancer Society recommends that women who want to avoid exposure to talc can switch to cornstarch-based products.

Recent Litigation over Talcum Powder Cancer

In just the past few years, plaintiffs have begun filing baby powder cancer lawsuits based on this risk of developing ovarian cancer in an attempt to hold manufacturers accountable and hopefully receive compensation. Two widely sold talc-based powders that have drawn such lawsuits are Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, both manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. In an October 2013 trial in South Dakota, the jury found enough evidence to link the plaintiff’s ovarian cancer to her decades-long use of Shower to Shower powder. Examination of the plaintiff’s cancerous tissue had revealed it contained particles of talc. Expert evidence presented at that trial showed that talcum powder could be responsible for 10,000 new cases of ovarian cancer each year.

In April and May 2014, plaintiffs also filed baby powder class action lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson in California and Illinois, respectively. These baby powder lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson knew about the increased risk of ovarian cancer for decades but failed to properly warn consumers about that risk. They allege that neither the labeling on the product nor any other marketing by Johnson & Johnson warns consumers not to use the product around the genital area or makes any mention of an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The only warnings provided on the label of Johnson’s Baby Powder are to keep the powder away from the eyes, to avoid inhalation, and to use it externally. Reports as early as 1982 show Johnson & Johnson was aware of a possible risk but still failed to warn consumers.

In addition to these baby powder lawsuits, the Mississippi Attorney General has launched an investigation into how Johnson & Johnson markets it talcum powder products.