New Trial Over Johnson & Johnson's Talc Powder: Jury Finds it Difficult to Decide Without Proper Evidence

By Jamie Nelson, | September 28, 2016

A young mother pours talcum powder over her baby daughter.

A young mother pours talcum powder over her baby daughter.

This week yet another claim was brought to courts citing a woman's use of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder as the cause for her ovarian cancer. Earlier this year, two lawsuits claiming that Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder causes cancer concluded with a jury awarding more than a $100 million to the aggrieved parties.

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According to CBS News, a woman in California filed charges claiming that Johnson & Johnson's engaged in "negligent conduct" in the marketing and manufacturing of its baby powder. Similar cases against the company in the past were dropped due to the lack of evidence linking talcum powder and cancer.

At the moment, research has not provided any concrete evidence to support the link between talcum powder and cancer, the Daily Mail reported. The usage of talcum powder for feminine and infant hygiene has been practiced for many generations. Despite Johnson and Johnson's' claiming their baby powder is safe, more than 2,000 women have filed legal cases against the company, whose product dominates the market.

With little evidence, the situation has led to consumers questioning the safety of talcum in general.Talcum is a mineral that is naturally occurring and comprises mainly of silicon, magnesium, and oxygen. It is considered one of the softest minerals and can be crushed into a powder.

Talcum is used in personal care and cosmetic products to absorb moisture. However, in its natural state, it can sometimes contain asbestos, which is carcinogenic. However, the talcum used in the United States since the 1970s has not contained asbestos.

For researchers, conducting studies to determine the link between talcum and ovarian cancer is difficult. As it is unethical to expect women to use the talcum in a controlled study to see if they develop cancer. While relatively rare, ovarian cancer is fatal. It has been linked to several factors such as obesity, age, and the use of estrogen therapy during menopause.

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