In a new talcum powder lawsuit, dozens of women are bringing claims against Johnson & Johnson over a risk of cancer associated with talcum powder.

A group of 76 distinct plaintiffs has joined together in this talcum powder lawsuit.

The plaintiffs include women who claim they suffered from ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, both talc-based products made by defendant Johnson & Johnson.

Some of the plaintiffs are the representatives of the estates of women who have already died from their ovarian cancer.

The talcum powder lawsuit also names as a defendant Imerys Talc America. Formerly known as Luzenac America, Imerys is a company that mines raw talc and supplies it to companies like J&J who make talc-based products.

Both Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower are composed almost entirely of talc, the plaintiffs say.

Talcum Powder Lawsuit Cites Lack of Warning

According to the plaintiffs, women who use talc-based powders for personal hygiene in their perineal area are at a heightened risk for developing ovarian cancer. They claim J&J and Imerys should have published warnings about this risk but failed to do so.

The plaintiffs cite studies from as far back as 1971 that suggest a link between use of talcum powder around the genitals and later development of ovarian cancer.

Then in 1982, the first epidemiologic study was conducted studying the use of talcum powder in the female genital area. Researchers reported finding a 92 percent increase in the risk of ovarian cancer among women who used talcum powder that way.

Since that study, there have been 22 other epidemiologic studies conducted that focused on the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, according to the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs say nearly all these studies found an increase in the occurrence of ovarian cancer among women who reported perineal use of talcum powder.

There are other reasons the defendants knew or should have known about the risk, the plaintiffs claim. In 1994, the Cancer Prevention Coalition sent a letter to J&J urging the company to substitute corn starch for talc in its products as a way to reduce the risk of cancer.

An in 1996, studies linking talc to ovarian cancer prompted the FDA to ask condom companies to stop applying talcum powder to condoms, in an effort to avoid exposing women to an increased risk of cancer.

Nevertheless, the defendants downplayed the risk of cancer and continued actively marketing talcum powder, even specifically targeting women in some of their marketing, plaintiffs say.

They accuse J&J and Imerys, under its former name Luzenac, of participating in an organization that sought to downplay and conceal this and any other health risks linked to talc.

They allege both companies joined the Talc Interested Party Task Force, formed by the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association for the purpose of defending talc’s reputation and preventing its regulation.

This task force allegedly hired scientists to conduct biased research that presented talc in a falsely positive light to the general public and to governmental regulators. Plaintiffs say this research confused the public about the risk of ovarian cancer associated with talc.

The Talcum Powder Lawsuit is Case No. 1622-CC10978 in the Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis, Missouri.