Allegations in Louisiana Talcum Powder Lawsuit Raise Serious Concerns

A talcum powder lawsuit brought by a woman in Louisiana is just the latest in a long line of cases alleging a link between powder containing talc and ovarian cancer. According to a report in Lawyers and Settlements, the plaintiff, Shintelle Joseph, claims that Johnson & Johnson actively marketed its talcum powder as safe and effective for odor and moisture control in the genital area. In spite of knowing that the products are unreasonably dangerous when used by a woman for feminine hygiene purposes, the company has continued to advertise and sell the products to maximize its own sales and profits, the lawsuit alleged.

Link Between Talc and Ovarian Cancer

There have been several studies that show this association between talcum powder use in the genital area and ovarian cancer. As so many complaints have alleged and continue to allege, Johnson & Johnson and other talcum powder manufacturers who make, sell, distribute and promote these products, know about these studies, but are disregarding the facts in an effort to boost their profits. Among the many studies that show the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer is one by Dr. Daniel Cramer, who discovered as far back as 34 years ago that women who used talcum powder in the genital area had a 92 percent increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Cramer’s 1982 study was the first epidemiological study of its kind on talcum powder use on female genitalia. This has been augmented by about 22 additional studies focused on the same issue. Eleven years after Cramer’s groundbreaking study was released, in 1993, the U.S. National Toxicology Program identified talc, the mineral that is the primary ingredient in talcum powder – as a carcinogen.

Many Affected Women

Shintelle Joseph, the woman who filed the recent lawsuit in Louisiana, like many women before her, says that she began using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder in her genital area when she was about 17 and continued for more than a decade before her ovarian cancer diagnosis. J & J has continued to defend its talcum powder products asserting that its powder products are perfectly safe. The company has also refused to put a warning label on its talcum powder products.

Instead of warning consumers about the dangers of talcum powder, Johnson & Johnson has aggressively marketed these products. They have chosen to ignore studies since the 1980s, which have shown links between talc and ovarian cancer. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a result of using talcum powder products, it is critical that you contact an experienced talcum powder attorney to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.