Why is Talcum Powder Dangerous?
Naturally occurring in clay, talc is comprised of silicon, oxygen, and magnesium. It is known for its softness. Found in many cosmetic products and powders which have been marketed to help with wetness, chaffing, rashes, and odor, talc-based powders have been used for decades by women to dust their perineum area, sanitary pads, and undergarments to keep the groin area cool and to inhibit the development of vaginal odors.
In 2006, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, talcum powder was classified as a potential human carcinogen if used in the genital area of women. As far back as 1982, Harvard professor Dr. Daniel W. Cramer compared over 200 women with ovarian cancer against 215 healthy women as a control and found that those who used talcum powder had twice the risk of getting ovarian cancer (3 times the risk for those who used it regularly). Since then, 20 epidemiological studies have been conducted and found that long-term use of talcum powder in the perineum area has an increased risk of 33% for women developing ovarian cancer.
Talcum Powder in the Courts
The first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson came in 2013 from Deane Berg of South Dakota (Deane Berg v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, Case No. 09-4179). The jury had found that Berg did develop ovarian cancer from regular talcum powder use and that Johnson & Johnson was negligent because of their lack of warnings for its talc-based products.
Since then, thousands of women have come forward to file suits for talcum powder-related ovarian cancer. In 2014, class action lawsuits in California and Illinois sought to show Johnson & Johnson’s responsibility for knowing about the cancer risks and not warning women on the potential dangers of using their products.
In 2016, two multimillion-dollar verdicts were awarded to those who sued Johnson & Johnson for ovarian cancer caused by regular, long-term talcum powder use.
Contact a Chicago Defective Product Lawyer Today
While a multitude of women have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson relating to talcum powder use in their genital area, and even with the overwhelming evidence of serious health risks, there is still a lack of warning labels on talcum powder products.
At Walner Law®, we are Chicago personal injury lawyers dedicated to holding the responsible party liable for any harm done to you or your loved ones. It’s not just about money, but justice. With decades of experience filing defective product suits, we have the knowledge to get you the compensation and retribution you deserve.
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