New parents are asking their pediatricians whether baby powder is safe for use on infants and young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently recommended against using baby powder on infants and young children due to a risk of developing serious respiratory problems. Medical researchers believe that inhaled baby powder can cause breathing issues and severe lung damage.

According to medical researchers, even small amounts of baby powder can irritate a child’s lungs. This risk is especially high if the child is predisposed or at high risk for developing respiratory disease. High risk children include babies born prematurely, children with respiratory syncytial virus, or children with congenital heart disease. Baby powder particles are easily inhaled because they are so small and difficult to contain.

Medical professionals suggest that if parents decide to use baby powder on their children, they should avoid putting the powder directly on the infant. If possible, parents should first place the powder on their hands and then apply it to their child’s skin. While all baby powders, including powders that are cornstarch based, increase risks of respiratory problems, talc-based powders should especially be avoided. Aside from respiratory issues, talc-based baby powders have also been linked to ovarian cancer in adult women who use the powders for feminine hygiene purposes.

Ovarian Baby Powder Cancer

According to recent studies, women who use talcum-based powders, like Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder or Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower, for feminine hygiene purposes are 24 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Many women use these powders to control moisture and odors in the genital area.

Several women have filed baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in state and federal court. According to the lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about the dangerous side effects associated with using the products. The lawsuits allege that when women use the Johnson & Johnson talc-based products, the talc often travels from outside the genitals to inside the body, eventually lodging in the woman’s ovaries or pelvis. This causes irritation and inflammation, and eventually creates an environment where cancer cells can flourish.

Many medical researchers claim that talc based powders are chemically similar to asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic mineral sometimes found in construction materials. It is known to cause several unique and deadly forms of cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimated that almost 22,000 cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2014. They also estimated that over 14,200 women would die from ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2014. Many of the baby powder cancer lawsuits allege that the baby powder manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers about the danger of using talc-based baby powder, putting thousands of women at risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

Product liability lawyers are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring baby powder cancer lawsuits. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits will help victims pay both past and future medical bills, as well as compensate victims for the pain and suffering they’ve endured. Lawsuits like these also help hold large manufacturing companies accountable for their actions and remind the companies that they owe consumers a specific duty of care.