Talc in raw form is a mineral mostly consisting of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, talc is used to absorb moisture and reduce friction, making it a popular product for keeping skin dry and helping prevent rashes.

When people think of talcum powder, they usually think of babies, however it has been widely used by adult women for decades as a body powder for everyday hygiene. Now a study in the October issue of the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health is warning of talcum powder risks.

U.S. researchers in this study were looking at talcum powder, the possibilities of its releasing asbestos fibers, and the association to mesothelioma. But this study was started only after reports found a connection between talcum powder and diagnoses of ovarian cancer.

According to various reports and studies, any kind of baby powder or after-shower body powder applied to female genitalia has the potential to cause injury. The risk is that it migrates through the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. There has even been evidence of talc in some ovarian tumors.

The dangers of baby powder were brought to light in a June 2013 study published in the medical journal Cancer Prevention Research. Findings from researchers implied that women who used talc on their genitals faced a 20-30 percent greater risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who did not use it.

The researchers were not alone in voicing baby powder dangers. The American Cancer Society tells women who are concerned about the dangers of talcum powder to consider using cornstarch-based products. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization (WHO), had labeled talcum powder in feminine hygiene products a “possible carcinogen.”

Plaintiffs are involved in talcum powder lawsuits around the country, sharing allegations that Johnson & Johnson, makers of Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Body Powder, failed to provide adequate warning to consumers, and that they knew or should have known, about the dangers of their product when used for feminine cleanliness. To date, the only warning on J&J’s baby powder label states, “Keep powder away from a child’s face to avoid inhalation, which can cause breathing problems, ” and “Avoid contact with the eyes.”

In October 2013, a jury in South Dakota determined that J&J failed to provide sufficient warning to consumers about the risk of their talcum powder products, after finding enough evidence to link the plaintiff’s ovarian cancer to her use of talcum products over several decades. The Cancer Research UK in January updated its website to note ovarian cancer risks and concerns.

In April, a baby powder class action lawsuit was filed in California, looking “to force Johnson & Johnson to properly inform consumers about the potential health risks.”