You may have heard about mesothelioma in the news. Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the thin layer of tissue, or mesothelium, covering your internal organs. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer without many long-term treatment options. Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral used in fire-resistant and insulating materials like brake pads and floor tiles.
Developing Mesothelioma
Most people who develop mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos through asbestos mining and manufacturing or working with construction materials that contain asbestos. However, more recently, studies have linked talcum powder to mesothelioma as well. Asbestos often contaminates talc during mining because the two minerals tend to develop in close areas. Some manufacturers of talc products, like Johnson & Johnson, knew for decades that their talc contained asbestos.
The Link Between Talc and Mesothelioma
Research recently published in the January 2020 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine again links cosmetic talc to mesothelioma. The study, completed by Jacqueline Moline, MD, of the Northwell Health Department of Occupational Medicine Epidemiology and Prevention and colleagues from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead and the Department of Pathology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, described 33 cases of malignant mesothelioma among individuals with no known asbestos exposure other than cosmetic talcum powder.The study involved 26 women and seven men, all of whom were long-term users of cosmetic talc products. All had been diagnosed with mesothelioma since 2015. In six of the cases, researchers found asbestos in tumor tissue or lymph nodes. In every case, the asbestos fibers were consistent with the type known to contaminate cosmetic talc products and the types of asbestos found in talc. The study was the first large case series to identify talcum powder as the probable cause of mesothelioma.If you or a loved one have a mesothelioma diagnosis you think may have been caused by using talcum powder, you don’t have to go through this alone. Call the Madeksho Law Firm for a free consultation at 888-910-6376 or contact us online.
