An Alabama woman has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson claiming she contracted ovarian cancer caused by talc powder that the company manufactured.

Plaintiff Lisa W. claims that she used Shower to Shower talc powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson on her genital area from 1988 to 2015, all the while assuming that the talc powder was safe.

Johnson & Johnson marketed its product as able to be used daily all over the body for both “freshness” and “comfort”, the lawsuit states.

When Lisa was just 44 years old, in 2015, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She claims it is ovarian cancer caused by talc powder.

History of Ovarian Cancer Caused by Talc Powder

According to this lawsuit, the first study that connected talc powder and ovarian cancer was conducted in 1971.

Later, in 1982, another study was performed that found a 92% increased risk in ovarian cancer who reported using talc powder on their genital area.

The researchers from this study suggested that Johnson & Johnson place a warning on their talc powder bottles so that consumers could make an educated decision.

Since 1982 there have been 22 additional epidemiologic studies done that connect ovarian cancer with talc powder.

According to this lawsuit, in 1993 United States National Toxicology Program put out a study regarding the toxicity of talc and labeled it a carcinogen.

Lisa claims that, in response to this study, a task force called the Talc Interested Party Task Force (TIPTF) was formed specifically to “create confusion to the consuming public about the true hazards of talc relative to ovarian cancer.” Johnson & Johnson was a part of this task force.

Lisa’s lawsuit states that on November 10, 1994, the Cancer Prevention Coalition sent a letter to Johnson & Johnson’s CEO warning the company of the risks of ovarian cancer caused by talc powder.

The letter cited relevant studies and then asked Johnson & Johnson to either remove its talc powder products from the market or to at least place a warning on the products.

Many other organizations have also named talc powder as posing a serious threat to health. The International Association for Research on Cancer has listed talc powder as a Group 2B human carcinogen.

Additionally, in 2006, the government of Canada under The Hazardous Products Act and associated Controlled Products Regulations named talc powder as a “very toxic” and “cancer causing” substance in its Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

Lisa claims that Johnson & Johnson not only knew about the risk of ovarian cancer caused by talc powder, but they intentionally misled the public.

The lawsuit states that Johnson & Johnson, “procured and disseminated false, misleading, and biased information regarding the safety of the products to the public and used influence over governmental and regulatory bodies regarding talc.”

As a direct and proximate result of using talc powder, Lisa claims, she developed ovarian cancer caused by talc powder and required surgeries and treatments.

She brings claims of failure to warn, negligence or wantonness, breaches of express and implied warranties, civil conspiracy, concert of action and punitive damages.

The Talc Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 2:2016-cv-01287, in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Alabama.