Does ordinary household talcum powder cause cancer? That question may sound surprising, but it has spawned years of scientific research and a new wave of baby powder cancer lawsuits.

Talcum powder takes advantages of certain properties of talc to absorb moisture and reduce friction. Talc is made from minerals that occur naturally in the earth.

It has certain properties in common with the notorious carcinogen asbestos: in particular, both talc and asbestos are made of microscopic fibers that do not readily disintegrate.

In fact, talc in its natural state actually contains a small amount of asbestos. All talc products sold for home use in the United States have been free from asbestos for decades. The question remains, however, whether talc itself has a relationship to cancer.

Since the 1970s, science has looked for a relationship between talcum powder and cancer – particularly ovarian cancer that could be related to some women’s use of talcum powder near the genital area.

An early analysis of 13 ovarian tumors by British scientists revealed talc particles were embedded in 10 of them. Scientists hypothesize that talc applied to the genital area may be able to migrate through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes and lodge itself in the ovaries.

More recently, a study published in 2013 distilled the results of eight other studies that analyzed the experiences of over 8,500 women with ovarian cancer. The researchers found an overall 20 to 30 percent increase in the risk of ovarian cancer for women who use talcum powder in the genital area.

Similarly, a 2003 report combining the results of 16 different studies found a 30 percent increase in ovarian cancer among users of talcum powder. And the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer now classifies talc as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

Based on scientific studies like these, some women suffering from ovarian cancer and who may be able to rule out other possible causes have begun bringing baby powder cancer lawsuits within the past decade.

One well-known early case was that of Deane B. of South Dakota. Deane was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2006. In the course of educating herself about her own predicament, she found only one possible risk factor that could apply: the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene. For decades, Deane had used Shower to Shower and Johnson’s Baby Powder, both Johnson & Johnson products.

So Deane filed suit against Johnson & Johnson in federal court. The result of Deane’s baby powder cancer lawsuit were mixed: the jury found J&J had been negligent for not warning consumers about the risk of talcum powder cancer, but they also awarded Deane no damages.

Perhaps emboldened by the jury’s finding of negligence, several hundred other plaintiffs have since brought their own baby powder cancer lawsuits. Some are naming companies all the way up the talc supply chain, including mining companies like Imerys Talc America Inc. who supplies talc to J&J.

Generally, these plaintiffs argue that the defendants owed consumers a proper warning about the risks of talcum powder cancer but failed to provide any such warning.