A talcum powder lawsuit has been filed by a woman who says she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder on her private areas from birth through 2016.

Plaintiff Gail G. claims she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2015. Gail’s talcum powder lawsuit joins an MDL in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Defendants include Johnson & Johnson, maker of Johnson’s Baby Powder and Imerys Talc. Imerys Talc is the name of company that mined talc, an inorganic mineral, for Johnson & Johnson for decades.

The talcum powder lawsuit alleges, “At relevant times, Imerys Talc continually advertised and marketed talc as safe for human use, and knew that its processed talc was intended for human use.”

According to the MDL, Johnson & Johnson “induced women through advertisements to dust themselves with this product to mask odors. The Johnson’s Baby Powder bottle specifically targets women, stating: ‘For you, use every day to help feel soft, fresh, and comfortable.’”

Talcum Powder Lawsuit Alleges Evidence Ignored

Back in 1971, Dr. W.J. Henderson and fellow researchers were the first team of scientists to suggest a link existed between talc use in the genital area and ovarian cancer. The researchers reportedly discovered talc particles inside 10 out of 13 dissected ovarian tumors.

Dr. Daniel Cramer followed up in 1982 with a study that found a 92 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer among women who said they used talc-based powders in their private areas.

Dr. Cramer reportedly was so concerned by his findings that he met with Johnson & Johnson’s Dr. Bruce Semple. Dr. Cramer shared his findings and suggested Johnson & Johnson should place a warning on its talcum powder products regarding the increased risk of ovarian cancer to allow women to make an informed decision on whether to use the products. No such warning appeared.

Over the years, a minimum of 27 other epidemiologic studies have found a link between talc and ovarian cancer. In 1983, a 150 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer was found in women who used talcum powder in their genital area, said a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers believe that talc crystals enter the body through the genitourinary tract. From there, the crystals enter the peritoneal cavity where they make their way into the open-ended ovaries. Talc crystals settle inside, create undetected irritation, and over time, instigate cancer cell growth.

According to the talcum powder lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson published a technology forecast in 1986 that indicated the powders “provide no health benefit. The document also acknowledged that ‘Retrospective studies have implicated talc use in the vaginal area with the incidence of ovarian cancer.’”

The Talcum Powder Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-08752 and is part of the Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder MDL, In re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2738, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.