The Chemistry of Talcum Powder: How Does it Cause Cancer?
We associate talcum powder with babies, a clean, fresh scent, and everything wholesome. Companies like Johnson & Johnson built their entire brands around talc’s fresh, healthy image. Although consumer advocates have raised concerns for decades about the possibility of talc use leading to cancer, companies like Johnson & Johnson dismissed these concerns. Then, in December 2018, separate investigations by the New York Times and Reuters revealed documents from Johnson & Johnson, showing that the company knew that asbestos was contaminating the talc used in its baby powder for decades.
What is Talc?
Talc is a naturally-occurring mineral mined from open pits and is the softest known mineral, rated a one on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The soft mineral is often used in cosmetics and antiperspirants because it can absorb oil, moisture, and odor. But in the 1980s, consumer advocates raised concerns that asbestos could contaminate talc products. Asbestos is a soft, fibrous mineral that often contaminates talc deposits and can end up in talc products. Researchers first linked asbestos to ovarian cancer in 1958.
How Does Talc Cause Cancer?
Talc often forms in metamorphic rocks near asbestos deposits. During talc mining, small amounts of asbestos can contaminate the mineral, making its way into cosmetic products. Talcum powder and other products containing talc contain a very fine powder that users can accidentally inhale or ingest. Moreover, products containing talc used in the vaginal area can enter the body and travel to the ovaries and other reproductive organs. When asbestos contaminates talc, asbestos can enter the body as well. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and the U.S. tightly regulates its use in the U.S.In May of 2020, Johnson & Johnson removed talc from its products due to concerns about asbestos contamination and now only sell cornstarch-based powder. Still, the company now faces more than 16,000 talc-related lawsuits claiming its products caused ovarian and other reproductive cancers in women. A St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.7 billion to 22 women who sued alleging the baby powder caused their cancers in 2018. And in 2019, in California, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a woman $29 million for her mesothelioma claim.If you or someone you love developed cancer after using talcum powder, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 888-910-6376 or through our online form. Your initial consultation is free, and you never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
