Largest Study to Date of Mesothelioma and Talcum Powder:
You may have heard of mesothelioma, and you may have even heard that asbestos causes this deadly cancer. But have you heard about the link between talcum powder and mesothelioma? For decades companies like Johnson & Johnson knew that asbestos contaminated their products made with talcum powder. Why is this a big deal? Because asbestos causes cancer.
Mesothelioma, Talc, and Asbestos
Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the thin lining that surrounds our internal organs, the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is deadly and aggressive, and there aren’t many effective long-term treatments. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.Asbestos is a fibrous mineral mined from the ground and often found near deposits of talc, another soft mineral. Asbestos is heat resistant and, for decades, was used in flame retardant clothing, building materials, and other heat resistant materials like brake pads. We now know that inhaling asbestos through the air or ingesting it in food or water can cause cancer. As a result, federal regulations now restrict how manufacturers can use asbestos.Because asbestos and talc often form in nearby mineral deposits, we now know that asbestos can contaminate talc during the mining process. Recent studies have indicated that using cosmetic talc can cause mesothelioma if the talc enters the body through the air or use in personal areas.
Talcum Powder and Mesothelioma
In a study published February 2020, the link between talcum powder and mesothelioma was reaffirmed. In one of the largest case studies to date, researchers Theresa Emory from Peninsula Pathology Associates in Newport News, Virginia; John Maddox from the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and Richard Kradin from the Department of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, shared their results in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.The study reviewed 75 patients with confirmed malignant mesothelioma, whose only known asbestos exposure was repeated cosmetic talcum powder use. Of the 75 patients:
- Four cases were in people who worked as barbers or cosmetologists or were family members who swept the barbershop.
- Twelve cases involved people under the age of 45.
- Forty-eight of the cases had pleural mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs.
- Twenty-three people had peritoneal mesothelioma.
- Two people had both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
- One individual had pericardial mesothelioma.
- One patient had testicular mesothelioma.
The researchers concluded that “the findings of the present and other recent studies suggest that cosmetic talc may be a cause of malignant mesothelioma.” The researchers recommended further large-scale controlled studies and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration consider regulation or withdrawal of cosmetic talc from the market.
Do You Have a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
If you or a loved one are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis you believe was caused by using talcum powder, you don’t have to go through this alone. Contact the Madeksho Law Firm for a free consultation. Call us at 888-910-6376 or contact us online.
