How is Talcum Powder Hazardous to my Health?
If you’ve used talcum powder in the past, you’ve likely heard about the dangers of talc-based products by now. But manufacturers kept products like Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder on the market for generations. We all associated an entire brand with its baby-soft image. Now that we know that talcum powder poses a cancer risk, it begs the question – why did it take medical professionals so long to discover how dangerous talc can be? It turns out that manufacturers have long lobbied to limit investigations into the health effects of talc, despite knowing that asbestos was contaminating its talc-based products. Combined with media reports of conflicting scientific results on talc dangers, consumers remained in the dark, and U.S. regulatory agencies remained complacent.
Why is Talcum Powder Dangerous?
In its natural form, talc often contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Asbestos is a soft mineral often found in deposits of talc. Asbestos is best known for causing lung cancers when inhaled, including mesothelioma. In 1976, the cosmetic and personal care products industry’s trade association created voluntary guidelines that all talcum powder should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos. Despite this, many talcum powders contained asbestos for decades.
Manufacturers Hid Test Results
It turns out that some people did know that talcum powder wasn’t safe. A Reuters investigation in 2018 discovered that Johnson and Johnson knew asbestos was contaminating its talc since the 1970s. According to Reuters’ investigation, many of the documents revealed during litigation with Johnson & Johnson “as well as deposition and trial testimony, show[ed] that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public.” Reuters also revealed that Johnson & Johnson successfully influenced regulators’ plans to limit asbestos in cosmetic talc products and investigate talc’s health effects.
Studies with Confounding Factors
Even with investigations and studies revealing the dangers of talc, conflicting studies continuously pop up in the media. For example, a January 2020 study that appeared in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) purported to show no link between cancer and talcum powder. But a deeper dive into the study shows that its conclusions may be misleading.The study compiled data from a quarter-million women who used powders in the genital areas, but researchers did not ask women whether they used talcum powder. Many women have known about talcum powder risks for more than a decade, and many powders now contain corn starch rather than talc. Many news sites report on studies without thoroughly investigating their conclusions, leading to needless confusion.If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer that you believe might be linked to using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, call us at 888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. There's never a charge to cost to talk with a lawyer and you might get compensation for you and your family.
