Johnson & Johnson claims its talc products “never contained asbestos [and] never will” but evidence has surfaced from recent lawsuit investigations that indicates otherwise. Furthermore, a recent investigative report published by Reuters in late 2018 found that Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and other talc-containing products not only did contain asbestos, but also that the company had been aware of the contamination for almost 30 years, putting consumers at risk of baby powder cancers.

How Do We Know Johnson & Johnson’s Talc Contains Asbestos?

According to the Reuter’s report, Johnson & Johnson’s own internal documents contained test results showing that both its raw talc and finished products such as Baby Powder and Shower to Shower contained asbestos. This information was never shared with the public, however, and Johnson & Johnson continues to proclaim that its products are asbestos free.

There is also the issue of the particular type of cancer that some plaintiffs developed while using the products in question. Mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the visceral lining, has only two known causes, one of which is radiation exposure. However, 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases are due to exposure to asbestos fibers.

How Did the Talc Get Contaminated with Asbestos?

Talc is a soft, powdery mineral that naturally occurs in the earth. Due to the mineral’s ability to absorb moisture, talc is frequently used in cosmetic and personal care products. One of the most common talcum powder products is baby powder.

Asbestos is another naturally occurring mineral but has been shown to be much more dangerous than talc. The mineral has been classified as a human carcinogen, meaning that it causes cancer in people.

According to WebMD, asbestos was previously used across several industries because of its natural resistance to heat, electricity, and chemicals. Insulation, tiles, shingles, house siding, pipe insulation, fabric, and car breaks are all items that contained asbestos.

When asbestos containing materials are distributed, they can release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can be inhaled, swallowed, or carried on the clothes to other locations where they can cause secondhand exposure. If asbestos enters the body, it can become trapped and can cause cellular damage – increasing the risk of cancer development.

Since the discovery of asbestos health risks, the uses of the material have been severely restricted. However, asbestos exposure is still a risk. Construction workers who work on old houses may be at risk for exposure and first responders from the 9/11 terrorist attacks were frequently exposed to the mineral. There is also concern that asbestos may contaminate other minerals such as talc.

The presence of asbestos fibers in talc is a consequence of geology. Both asbestos and talc are silicate minerals, formed by similar geologic processes – and are thus found in proximity to one another. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers have long been recognized as occupational hazards for talc miners.

In order to prevent consumer exposure to asbestos through talc, most manufacturers and talc providers test their talcum powder for the presence of asbestos. Although this helps prevent asbestos exposure, some consumers argue that asbestos makes its way into finished talc products—including Johnson & Johnson talc powder.

How Did Johnson & Johnson Get Away With It?

Among the internal documents that have surfaced in recent litigation are letters and other documents that the company used in order to influence government regulators to try and stop plans to limit asbestos as well as suppress scientific evidence of the health effects of talc.

How Long Have They Known?

The earliest reports of asbestos contamination date from the late 1950s. At that time, Johnson & Johnson’s talc was obtained from Italy. A laboratory reported the presence of tremolite (sometimes known as “brown” asbestos), one of the hard varieties known to cause mesothelioma. Tremolite consists of microscopic needles that drill directly through organ tissue from the inside out, causing chronic inflammation that results in the disease.

There were also lab reports from the early to mid-1970s in which asbestos fibers were detected, according to internal company documents. However, these results were never reported.

Billion Dollar Verdict Awarded Over Johnson’s Talc

In addition to mesothelioma, baby powder use has also been linked to ovarian cancer.

In 2018, a Missouri jury issued a $4.69 billion dollar verdict in a lawsuit that alleged Johnson’s talc caused ovarian cancer. Recently, the award was reduced to $2.1 billion after the company successfully argued that some of the plaintiffs should not have been included in the verdict because they did not reside in Missouri. Reportedly only five of the 22 named plaintiffs are or were residents of the state.

According to the complaint, Johnson & Johnson knew about the link between their talc products and ovarian cancer. A report by STL Today noted that even though the verdict was cut, the court agreed with the plaintiffs.

“A reasonable inference from all this evidence is that, motivated by profits, Defendants disregarded the safety of consumers despite their knowledge the talc in their Products caused ovarian cancer,” stated the Eastern District Missouri Court in its order.

STL Today, the website for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper, reports that the company has issued a statement saying that it will stop sales of its baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in May. However, Johnson & Johnson reportedly continues to reject the claim that its talc products are tainted with asbestos.

“We remain confident that our talc is safe, asbestos free, and does not cause cancer,” a spokesperson for the company told reporters.

A federal criminal investigation, along with 41 state investigations into whether the company misled the public about its products’ link to cancer, also remains open, according to STL Today.

More than 10,000 plaintiffs currently have claims pending against Johnson & Johnson, a popular baby powder manufacturer. Some of the plaintiffs claim that internal documents prove that Johnson & Johnson new about the asbestos in their talcum powder but chose to conceal the carcinogen’s presence. Other plaintiffs claim that not all of the talc used by Johnson & Johnson is tested for asbestos, meaning that the carcinogen can sneak into products without leaving a paper trail.

Is Talc Itself Safe?

The safety of pure talcum powder is hotly debated in the scientific community. Talcum powder is used by many women as a common personal hygiene product, and may be applied directly to their genitals in order to mask odors and eliminate moisture. Although the use of talc for personal hygiene purposes is not medically necessary, Johnson & Johnson has been marketing the powder as a safe and necessary feminine hygiene product for decades.

However, concerns about the safety of talc have been around for decades. A 1982 study was the first to suggest a link between talc and cancer. Of the 215 women with ovarian cancer involved in the study, approximately 43 percent regularly used talcum powder directly on their genitals or applied talc as personal hygiene products.

According to the author of the study, Dr. Daniel Cramer, talc that has been applied to women’s genitals is likely to migrate inside of the body and into the pelvic cavity where it may lead to serious health side effects, including inflammation and cancer. However, few studies had been conducted on the extent of the possible health consequences related to the use of talcum powder.

There are serious questions about the safety of talc, even in the absence of asbestos. Since 2006, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified talc as a “possible carcinogen” when used in the peritoneal area. In 2016, a study published in the journal Epidemiology reported that women using talc have a 33 percent higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Although the safety of talc is debated, experts usually agree that asbestos in talcum powder can cause cancer. The IARC classifies asbestos-contaminated talc as “carcinogenic to humans.”

A more recent study, published in Reproductive Sciences in February 2019, found that contact between talc and healthy ovarian cells can result in oxidation – which in turn can lead to the formation of malignant cells. The talc used in this study contained no asbestos.

While other feminine hygiene products such as tampons and pads are regulated by the FDA as medical devices, talcum powder has long been seen as a “hygiene extra,” and has not been subject to intense safety testing by the FDA. Now, many women who believe their cancer may have been caused by the product are suing talcum powder manufacturers for damages including compensation for medical expenses, injuries, pain and suffering, and more.