Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos in Baby Powder

Johnson & Johnson has known for decades that its talcum powder and baby powder can be contaminated with asbestos, the carcinogenic mineral that causes mesothelioma. Yet it has repeatedly hid the testing and downplayed the asbestos risk in its products.

In nature, talcum and asbestos are often found near one another in geologic formations. During the talc mining process, there is always the possibility of asbestos contamination, but only a tiny fraction of talcum powder is tested for asbestos.[1]

Asbestos in talcum powder or baby powder is especially problematic due to the fact that it is easy to breathe in the powder during use. If the powder contains asbestos, it can put people’s lives at risk. Asbestos can cause pleural mesothelioma, a deadly cancer in the lining of the lungs. Asbestos also causes peritoneal mesothelioma in the lining of the abdomen, pericardial mesothelioma in the lining of the heart and testicular mesothelioma.

Johnson & Johnson Under Fire for Asbestos in its Talcum Powder

While Johnson & Johnson has steadfastly denied that its products have contained asbestos, an investigation by Reuters and its review of evidence used in mesothelioma lawsuits found that J&J knew from at least 1971 through the early 2000s that its popular baby powder and talcum powder products at least periodically contained deadly asbestos. [2] In fact, the earliest mentions that the J&J’s talcum powder may be contaminated with asbestos came in 1957. Testing of old bottles of talcum powder found in people’s homes, on eBay and even in the Johnson & Johnson corporate headquarters by labs hired by attorneys have turned up varying amounts of asbestos.

In a 2019 paper published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers presented the case studies of 33 mesothelioma patients whose only substantial exposure to asbestos was through the use of talcum powder. Of the 33 patients,  six individuals underwent tissue testing that showed fibers consistent with the type of asbestos found in cosmetic talc, but not in other common asbestos products like building supplies and insulation.[6]

What to Do if You Have Been Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

RPWB attorneys have spent their careers helping mesothelioma victims and their loved one receive compensation from companies that put their lives at risk. This includes men and women who developed mesothelioma as a result of using asbestos-contaminated products such as Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and their other talcum powder products like Shower to Shower.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we encourage you to contact us for a free- no obligation case review. Our lawyers represent people who have developed mesothelioma throughout the country, including those who were exposed to asbestos in Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and its other talcum powder products like Shower to Shower.

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[1]“What is Talc, Where is it Used and Why is Asbestos a Concern?” New York Times, Dec. 14, 2018. Retrieved at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/business/talc-asbestos-powder-facts.html
[2]“Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder: A Reuters Investigation,” Reuters, Dec. 14, 2018. Retrieved at https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
[3]Best Law Firms, U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved online at https://www.bestlawyers.com/firms/rogers-patrick-westbrook-brickman-llc/34195/US
[4]Best Lawyers 2019. Retrieved at https://www.bestlawyers.com/firms/rogers-patrick-westbrook-brickman-llc/34195/US
[5]“PRODUCT LIABILITY, MASS TORT AND CLASS ACTION: TOXIC TORT – PLAINTIFF,” The Legal 500. Retrieved at https://www.legal500.com/c/united-states/dispute-resolution/product-liability-mass-tort-and-class-action-toxic-tort-plaintiff
[6]“A New Study Suggests Tainted Talcum Powder Can Cause a Rare Cancer. Here’s How That Could Play Out in the Courtroom,” Time Magazine, October 15, 2019. Retrieved at https://time.com/5692129/talcum-powder-mesothelioma/
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