Decades ago, few people had heard of mesothelioma. This aggressive cancer wasn’t formally named until the early 1900s, and its link to asbestos exposure wasn’t confirmed until the 1960s. Since then, research has shown that asbestos is responsible for roughly 80% of all mesothelioma cases.
Most people associate asbestos with insulation and construction materials, but it has also been found in a surprising place: talcum powder. Because asbestos and talc naturally occur near each other in the earth, talc mined for use in consumer products can be contaminated with asbestos—posing serious health risks.
What Is Talcum Powder—and Where Is It Used?
Talcum powder is made from talc, a naturally occurring mineral that’s crushed into a soft powder. It’s used to absorb moisture and create a silky texture in products such as:
- Baby powder
- Body powder
- Eyeshadow
- Blush and bronzer
- Powdered foundation
- Lipstick and lotion
- Deodorant
- Pressed cosmetics
Not every personal care product contains talc, but many have historically relied on it. Unfortunately, the FDA does not require pre-market safety testing for cosmetics, so asbestos contamination has gone undetected in many brands for years.
Known Product Recalls and FDA Action
Since 2019, the FDA has confirmed asbestos contamination in talc-based products from several well-known brands, prompting recalls and consumer warnings. These include:
- Certain Claire’s and Beauty Plus cosmetics
- A specific lot of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder
Even as far back as the 1970s, the FDA acknowledged that talc could be contaminated with asbestos and required talc products to be asbestos-free. However, manufacturers were left responsible for their own testing, which created gaps in enforcement.
How Talcum Powder Can Pose a Risk
While talc itself isn’t proven to cause mesothelioma, asbestos contamination is the concern. When asbestos particles are inhaled or swallowed, they can embed in the lining of the lungs or abdomen—leading to mesothelioma years or even decades later.
Two types of mesothelioma are especially relevant to talc users:
- Pleural mesothelioma (lungs): Symptoms include chest pain, coughing, and difficulty breathing
- Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen): Symptoms include abdominal pain, swelling, and nausea
Because talcum powder produces fine particles, even routine use can lead to inhalation or ingestion—particularly with baby powder or powdered cosmetics.
Legal Action and Industry Response
Many companies have faced lawsuits from individuals who believe their cancer was caused by talc-based products. Johnson & Johnson is at the center of the largest wave of litigation, including a proposed $100 million settlement in 2020 and multiple court verdicts exceeding billions of dollars.
Other companies facing claims include:
- Mennen, Ammens, Clubman
- Revlon, Avon, Merle Norman, L’Oréal, Maybelline
- Chanel, Coty, Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden
Some popular products named in lawsuits are Jean Nate, Charles of the Ritz, Cashmere Bouquet, and Ultima.
In response to growing legal pressure, some brands have removed talc from their body powders and pledged to reformulate. A 2018 Reuters investigation alleged that Johnson & Johnson knew its talc sometimes contained asbestos—and kept that information from the public.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after long-term use of talc-based products, contacting a talcum powder lawyer or ovarian cancer lawyer may help determine if you qualify to file a talcum powder lawsuit.
What You Can Do
If you’ve used talc-based products and are concerned about exposure:
- Check your products: Look for talc on the ingredient label. A batch code near the barcode can help identify recalled items.
- Stop using suspect products: If the brand or batch has been linked to asbestos contamination, discontinue use immediately.
- Watch for symptoms: Early detection is key. See a doctor if you experience chest pain, persistent coughing, breathing difficulty, stomach swelling, or unexplained weight loss.
- Know your history: If you’ve used products from Johnson & Johnson, Avon, Revlon, Chanel, L’Oréal, or similar companies, take extra care in reviewing your exposure.
While the odds of developing mesothelioma from contaminated talc are low, they’re not zero. Being informed and proactive about your health and product choices can help minimize risk.
References
- European Respiratory Review, Malignant pleural mesothelioma: history, controversy and future of a manmade epidemic. (2015.) Retrieved by https://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/135/115
- National Organization for Rare Disorders, Rare Disease Database, Mesothelioma. (2017.) Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/mesothelioma/
- Food and Drug Administration, FDA Advises Consumers to Stop Using Certain Cosmetic Products. (2020.) Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-recalls-alerts/fda-advises-consumers-stop-using-certain-cosmetic-products
- Reuters, Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder, (2018.) Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
- Time Magazine, A New Study Suggests Tainted Talcum Powder Can Cause a Rare Cancer. Here’s How That Could Play Out in the Courtroom. (2019.) Retrieved from https://time.com/5692129/talcum-powder-mesothelioma/
- Reuters, Exclusive: Chanel, Revlon, L’Oréal pivoting away from talc in some products. (2020.) Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chanel-talc-powder-exclusive-idUSKBN23G0GK
