A new lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia states that female genital application of baby powder and cancer risk are connected.

The plaintiff, Patricia T., filed her products liability lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson Inc., Imery’s Talc America, Inc., and Personal Care Products Council. The named defendants are related in the mining, development, manufacturing and promoting of talc-containing products known as Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower talcum powder.

According to the baby powder and cancer risk lawsuit, Patricia T. developed ovarian cancer because of using these two products as part of a daily hygiene routine on her perineal area for several years. She says she started using either Shower to Shower or Johnson’s Baby Powder in July 1947. She alleges she continued this use until November 2014—a total of 63 years.

She claims her choice to use the talcum products on her genital area was largely due to promotional efforts on the part of the defendants that assured the public of its purity and safety. She claims these same advertisements also indirectly mentioned such use by saying things like “SHOWER to SHOWER can be used all over your body” 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.”

Despite a growing body of evidence that there was a link between talcum powder or baby powder and cancer risk, Patricia T. alleges that the defendants suppressed this information and continued to promote the products as a safe hygiene item.

The plaintiff is a resident of Louisiana but is filing in the District of Columbia, which is the home of Personal Care Products Council. The other defendants have headquarters in the State of New Jersey and the State of California, but all do business in D.C., she says.

Evidence Regarding Baby Powder and Cancer Risk

The baby powder and cancer risk link first surfaced in 1971 in a study run by Dr. W. J. Henderson and other contributors in Cardiff, Wales. Dr. Daniel Cramer then ran the first epidemiologic study in 1982.

The data indicated that the link between baby powder and cancer risk was significant, with a reported 92% increase in the chance of developing ovarian cancer. Since that time, there have been 27 additional epidemiological studies verifying this link.

Patricia T. is bringing counts for violation of consumer protection procedures, negligence or wantonness, defective manufacturing and design, failure to warn, and negligence misrepresentation against the named defendants.

She is also alleging fraud, fraudulent concealment, breach of express warranties, breach of implied warranties of merchantability, breach of implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, civil conspiracy, and punitive damages.

She is seeking an award that takes into consideration her medical bills, lost wages, mental and physical anguish, pain, and suffering, as well as physical disfigurement and loss of consortium. She hopes for punitive damages, treble and general damages, and a return of all court and attorney fees.

The Baby Powder and Cancer Risk Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-02657, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.