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Disputes over the safety of Johnson & Johnson’s signature baby powder continue as more than 14,000 consumers have sued the corporation over the last several years. Plaintiffs are claiming the company’s talc-based products are contaminated with asbestos and can lead to the development of different forms of cancer, including ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma. Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Body Powder products, specifically, are connected to several cases where plaintiffs allege that years of use have led to their cancer diagnoses.

Talcum powder can be found in a variety of cosmetic and personal hygiene products, including lotion, powdered makeup, and deodorant. J&J’s Baby Powder is historically used to treat diaper rash in infants, but it is also used by adult women for a variety of purposes. Women who are filing lawsuits against J&J as a result of their ovarian cancer diagnoses are claiming their cancers were caused by years of powder use on or near their genital area. Individuals who are suing J&J for its products have also contracted peritoneal mesothelioma, which can be caused by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers found in talc.

Evidence Backing Cancer Links

Numerous studies have been conducted on the safety of J&J’s talcum powder products and whether or not they are linked to the development of cancer. This concern was initially investigated in 1971 when researchers identified talc particles in ovarian tumors. Another study administered in 1982 assessed females with ovarian cancer who had regularly used talcum powder, and discovered a possible association between their cancer diagnoses and talc use.

More recent studies have shown inconsistent evidence on talc’s connection to ovarian cancer. A 2014 study found that talcum powder use “does not appear to influence ovarian cancer risk.” However, a research group in 2017 found that the link between genital use of talcum powder and the development of ovarian cancer was “weak but statistically significant.”

Though many of the claims against J&J involving their asbestos-laced talcum powder are associated with ovarian cancer, some research suggests that there is a connection between extended talcum powder use and the development of peritoneal mesothelioma. One 2014 study analyzed how one brand of talcum powder cosmetic products could be associated with mesothelioma in women. Researchers discovered that inhaled asbestos fibers within the talcum powder could have contributed to a woman’s mesothelioma, “as well as other women with the same scenario.”