Talcum Powder Litigation

Thousands of individuals across the United States are filing lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other talcum powder manufacturers. If you believe you have a case against a manufacturer, we want to speak to you. Our experienced talcum powder lawyers are offering free case evaluations. Schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss your potential case and talcum powder litigation.

Studies have shown that the use of talcum powder may increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. Often termed the “silent killer,” ovarian cancer is considered one of the most deadly cancers in women. It often develops without symptoms and is difficult to detect in its early stages. It is for this reason that it frequently remains undiagnosed until it has metastasized, meaning it has spread to other organs.

Many women use talcum powder, or baby powder, as part of their personal hygiene regimen. The most well known brands are perhaps Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower and Johnson’s Baby Powder, but there are many others. The main ingredient is talc, a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. When used in the genital area, or dusted on sanitary pads, tampons, or diaphragms, the tiny particles can migrate into the body and reach the ovaries.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified talcum powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

In a study published in 2013 in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston pooled data comparing talcum powder use of 8,525 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer with that of 9,859 controls (women who remained cancer-free). The results showed that regular application of talcum powder in the genital area raised the risk of developing an ovarian tumor by 24 percent.

In a 2013 case brought by a woman who had developed ovarian cancer after approximately 30 years of dusting with Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower product, a Harvard epidemiologist testified that this type of dusting leads to approximately 10,000 new cases of ovarian cancer each year–45% of new cases annually. The jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

Many more cases are being filed nationwide against talcum powder manufacturers as well as talc mining companies who have are alleged to have failed to warn female consumers of the risks of genital dusting.

While Johnson & Johnson has the greatest share of the market, there are several other manufacturers of talc-based personal care products. This includes but is not limited to:

• Johnson & Johnson. This company’s talc brands include Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
• Colgate-Palmolive. This company’s talc brand is Cashmere Bouquet.
• Imerys Talc North America. This company produces cosmetic and raw industrial talc.
• Whittaker, Clark & Daniels. This company produces raw cosmetic talc.
• Vanderbilt Minerals. This company produces raw cosmetic talc.

If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after having used talcum powder, baby powder, or any other talc-based product or products, speak with a talcum powder lawyer. You may be legally entitled to compensation for medical costs, loss of income, and other damages. An attorney will be able to help you determine if you have a viable claim.

Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. attorneys are investigating the scientific research linking the use of talcum powder in the genital region to ovarian cancer. If you or a loved one is or was a user of any brand or brands of talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, please contact us.