An Illinois woman has recently filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleging that the company’s baby powder caused her to develop ovarian cancer.

Plaintiff Lucy R. claims that the purposely hidden ovarian cancer and baby powder link caused her to unknowingly use a product that caused her to develop ovarian cancer.

Lucy alleges that Johnson & Johnson has known of the ovarian cancer and baby powder link for decades, yet has refused to take any action to protect consumers.

Talc is a naturally occurring element that is found in mines. It is an inorganic mineral and is considered a magnesium trisilicate.

It is the main ingredient in Johnson’s baby powder and many other baby powder products, as well as Johnson and Johnson’s Shower to Shower product marketed toward adults.

Not only do women use baby powder on their infants to help eliminate friction and absorb wetness in the diaper area, leaving babies’ bottoms dry and comfortable, it is also used by more than 40% of women on a daily basis for their personal feminine hygiene needs.

Lucy’s lawsuit claims that Johnson & Johnson “convinced women through advertisements to dust themselves with this product to mask odors.

The bottle of ’Johnson’s Baby Powder’ specifically targets women by stating, ‘For you, use every day to help feel soft, fresh, and comfortable.’”

The Shower to Shower product used advertisements with slogans such as “A sprinkle a day keeps odor away” and “Your body perspires in more places than just under your arms. Use Shower to Shower to feel dry, fresh, and comfortable throughout the day” and “Shower to Shower can be used all over your body.”

Ovarian Cancer and Baby Powder Link

The lawsuit states that as far back as 1961, published research showed that particles similar to talc can migrate from the exterior genital area into the ovaries of women.

The first research study to actually suggest an ovarian cancer and baby powder link was published in 1971. The research concluded that of 13 ovarian tumors examined, talc particles were “deeply embedded” in 10 of them.

There have been dozens of other research studies conducted since the initial studies undertaken more than 45 years ago, and “[n]early all of these studies have reported an elevated risk for ovarian cancer associated with perineum use of talcum powder and the majority of the studies show statistically significant elevations,” Lucy’s lawsuit reads.

Imerys, the manufacturer of talc supplied to Johnson & Johnson, and fellow defendant in the lawsuit, allegedly began placing ovarian cancer warnings on its Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the products provided to Johnson & Johnson, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also stated that in September 2012, a corporate representative of Imerys “testified in open court that his company exclusively supplied Defendants with talc used for its Baby Powder product and that ovarian cancer is a potential hazard associated with a women’s perineal use of talc-based body powders, like Defendants’ Baby Powder.”

Despite receiving evidence of an ovarian cancer and baby powder link directly from its supplier, Lucy alleges that Johnson & Johnson continued to fail to protect consumers by withholding this information.

Lucy has brought forth multiple counts against the defendants including strict liability for failure to warn and design defect, negligence, breach of express warranties, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, punitive damages.

She is seeking punitive, exemplary, actual and other damages for pain, mental anguish, physical disfigurement, physical impairment and medical expenses.

The Ovarian Cancer and Baby Powder Link Lawsuit is Case No. 1:16-cv-08622, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.