A Tennessee man has filed a talcum powder wrongful death lawsuitafter his wife died of ovarian cancer.

Plaintiff Donnie W. claims that his deceased wife Teresa used talcum powder products on her perineal area from childhood until her cancer diagnosis on Nov. 19, 2014. Over the years, she used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder, Donnie alleges.

Teresa died Feb. 18, 2016 “as a result of using talcum powder products,” according to the complaint.

Talcum Powder Wrongful Death Lawsuit Allegations

Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc and the Personal Care Products Council are named as defendants in the short form complaint. Among the allegations are failure to warn, defective manufacture and design, breach of both express and implied warranties, negligence and fraud.

Baby powder contains talc, a natural substance. When ground, talc makes an absorbent powder that is so smooth, it reduces friction when applied. Often used in baby powder, body powder and cosmetics, talc has been under suspicion of causing ovarian cancer since 1971, which is when talc particles were found in some ovarian tumors.

It’s possible that talc crystals creep up the genitourinary tract and into the peritoneal cavity. The ovaries are open-ended in the peritoneal cavity, and the talc crystals settle there and irritate the area over time.

Another theory is that talc particles simply cause inflammation, which is one factor believed to play a major role in the development of ovarian cancer.

Many women have used baby powder to help stay feeling fresh. It’s been sprinkled on feminine pads and applied directly to the inner thighs and genital area as a way to control odor.

The talcum powder wrongful death lawsuit claims Johnson & Johnson actively marketed talcum powder to women to use near their genitals for years. A Shower to Shower television commercial included a jingle with the words, “A sprinkle a day helps keep odor away. Have you had your sprinkle today?”

Surgical gloves and condoms no longer use talc-based powders on their products.

Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare cancer, but it is often fatal.

Studies Show Possible Link Between Talc and Cancer

Harvard professor Dr. Daniel W. Cramer published research in 1982 saying that women who used talcum powder were almost twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer. Women who used talcum powder on a regular basis directly on their genitals and on their sanitary napkins showed a risk increase of more than three times the women who never used talcum powder.

Since then, more than 20 studies have shown a probable link between talcum powder use and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The talcum powder wrongful death lawsuitmaintains that the baby powder manufacturers and talc suppliers knew of the increased risks of using the products, but failed to warn the public. Johnson & Johnson continues to defend its products and has never placed a warning label on any of its talcum powders.

In February 2016, a jury awarded a $72 million award in a talcum powder lawsuit filed by a cancer survivor.

Donnie W. is seeking no less than $5 million in his talcum powder wrongful death lawsuit.

If you or someone you love has developed ovarian cancer after using talcum powders, you could benefit from filing a talcum powder lawsuit against the companies that manufactured, marketed and sold the products.

The Talcum Powder Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 17C265 in the Circuit Court of Tennessee, Eleventh Judicial District at Chattanooga.