Johnson & Johnson and other named defendants face a new talc powder lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania woman alleging she suffered serious injuries, including development of ovarian cancer, due to using the company’s baby powder product.

Plaintiff Ethel P. filed thetalc powder lawsuit on Nov. 22, 2017 in the District of Columbia federal court.

According to the talc powder lawsuit, Ethel says she used the baby powder product for feminine hygiene purposes between January 1963 and October 2014.

It was in October 2014 that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the talc powder lawsuit states. She was 63 years old.

The talc powder lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including Violation of the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act, negligence, defective manufacture and design, failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, fraudulent concealment, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, and others.

Talcum Powder Lawsuits

To date, thousands of people have filed lawsuits claiming that they or their loved ones developed ovarian cancer after repeated use of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products.

There are around 5,000 pending lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson in state and federal court, and most of these lawsuits claim that women developed ovarian or uterine cancer after they used the talc based product.

The allegations against Johnson & Johnson claim that the company marketed the product for feminine hygiene use but knew or should have known of the likelihood or risk of ovarian cancer development. Plaintiffs state that the company failed to properly warn of the risks involved with talcum baby powder product use.

Talc and Ovarian Cancer

Talc, due to its ability to absorb moisture and reduce friction made it an effective ingredient to place in baby powder. It is an ingredient placed in other cosmetics and intimate hygiene products too.

J&J baby powder product came on the market in 1893 as an effective way to treat diaper rash and other minor irritations.

Over time, J&J’s baby powder product evolved and women began using talcum powder for feminine hygiene. Plaintiffs claim nearly 40 percent of women are known to use talcum powder products on a regular basis.

Although there are conflicting studies, published medical research suggests a risk of ovarian cancer development with talc-based powders.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), in an overall evaluation of talc says that “perineal use of talc-based body powder is possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

A study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology outlined a correlation between talc particles and tumor tissue. The study’s summary states “an extraction-replication technique was used to examine tissue from patients with ovarian and cervical tumours. In both conditions talc particles were found deeply embedded within the tumour tissue,” implying an association between talc and ovarian cancer.

The Talc Powder Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-02522-RC, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.