Signs Talcum Powder Causes Cancer

Talc is a mineral that is often used in cosmetics and personal care products. Over the years, there has been a surge in the complaints that talc causes various severe health issues. This has also given rise to the number of cases filed against companies that use talc for manufacturing their products. Patients have brought several complaints that talcum powder causes cancer. However, there is no solid scientific evidence supporting this claim. In this blog, we will look at how talcum powder can cause cancer and also at the lawsuit filed against one of the most prominent companies that have used talc in their products.

What Is Talc?

Talc is a mineral that is naturally found under the earth. Its scientific name is hydrous magnesium silicate. It is made up of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. It is found in a rock form that is mined and then milled. Ground talc is then extracted and used to make various products, like talcum powder and cosmetic products.

Talc is mainly used to absorb moisture and oil from the body and reduce friction and body odor. It is found in everything- from paper, plastic, personal care products, roof tiles, and even chewing gum. Talc prevents stickiness and prevents corrosion. It increases the adhesiveness of paints and also helps process rubber into tires.

Asbestos In Talcum Powder

Asbestos is a mineral that is known to cause cancer, particularly when someone breathes it in. Although asbestos and talc are different minerals, they are found close together in their natural form and get cross-contaminated most of the time. According to the United States Public Interest Research Group, 1 gram of talc contains 1 million fibers of asbestos.

Asbestos has been deemed as a carcinogenic agent by prominent groups, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Cancer Institute, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Association agency.

Exposure and inhalation of asbestos can lead to different types of cancer, like lungs, larynx, and mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the chest and stomach.

Does Talcum Powder Cause Cancer?

Talc, which has asbestos, is generally believed to cause cancer. Small children are mostly vulnerable to the negative impacts of cancer. It is particularly harmful if it’s swallowed or inhaled. Talc inhalation can cause wheezing, coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes, it can also be fatal.

Several studies have shown an increase in cancer when a small area is exposed to it. As the cancer spreads, the lifetime risk of the patient increases from 1.3% to 1.7%. It is thought that asbestos, with talc and even only talc, causes inflammation in the body, which can lead to cancer. Individuals with cancer are compared to those without and are asked to recall how many times they had used talc in the days the research was conducted.

Lawsuits Against The Use Of Talc In Products

Johnson & Johnson Lawsuit

People filing for talcum powder lawsuit claim they were diagnosed with cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder. The company has seen a 28% increase in lawsuits that claim its baby powder causes cancer. The Johnson & Johnson baby powder case saw its end when the company proposed an $8.9 billion bankruptcy settlement to settle these lawsuits. As of October 2023, J&J faced 52,995 pending talcum powder lawsuits in the USA.

Several studies are still emerging that show the negative effects of talc and asbestos. Some studies still rely on subjects’ memory recall abilities, which can be prone to error. Other research shows a link, but there is no definite cause-and-effect relationship between talc and cancer. If you suffer from cancer and suspect that talcum powder might be the cause of it, make sure to get help from a skilled attorney and file your claim. If you are eligible, there will always be a way to get compensation.