Talcum powder has been available to consumers since the late 1800’s, and it has always been marketed as a very safe product. Unfortunately, talcum powder cancer lawsuits are being filed by women across the United States. Many claims assert that the manufacturers of these products knew about the risks associated with using them and the heightened risk of cancer but did nothing about it. Many of these claims overtly state that the manufacturers purposely continued to market these products as safe despite this knowledge regarding cancer risks.
Many plaintiffs in these talcum powder cancer lawsuits point to a study that was published in 2013. That study found that women who used talcum powder on their genitals after a shower faced an increased cancer risk by a factor of between 20 and 30 percent. A link to that study can be found here. Others are finding out that the manufacturers of these products either did know, may have known or should have known about these potential risks more than 50 years earlier. A litany of older studies is suddenly coming to light.
Three examples of studies that concluded that there was a link between the use of talcum powder and a higher risk of cancer are described below:
- 1961 – Particles made of carbon that were very similar to the particles found in talcum powder were found to be able to migrate into a woman’s ovaries from the exterior of her genitals.
- 1968 – Researchers found that nearly 20 percent of talc was actually made of fibrous content similar to asbestos in terms of the health problems it could cause.
- 1982 – Harvard researchers found that using talcum powder on a woman’s genitals after a shower increased the risk of developing cancer by a factor of 92 percent.
To date, approximately 20 different studies have been published over the last 53 years that have in some way indicated that using talcum powder increases the risk of developing cancer. Yet these products are still marketed as safe and effective.
How Talcum Powder Allegedly Increases the Risk of Cancer
Talcum powder comes from talc, which is a substance that is formed when magnesium, silicon and oxygen are combined. The result is a powder that absorbs moisture and all but prevents friction. This is why it became popular as a skin care product, as it provided people with smooth, dry and rash-free skin tissue. The reason that it can cause cancer according to many researchers is because these fibers can travel through the birth canal and settle in a woman’s ovaries. When these particles are not expelled over time, they can form cancerous tissue.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits and Your Legal Rights
One of the most commonly-named defendants in these talcum powder cancer lawsuits is Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this manner, you need to protect yourself. Contact the talcum powder cancer lawyers at Parilman & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation. You can either email the firm or call 800-800-DRUG.
