Johnson & Johnson has recently come under fire when news broke out that their talcum-based products are causing ovarian cancer among women. Now, a lawyer in Alabama urged the company to remove its talcum powder products from store shelves or warn women of the risks the merchandises carry.
This month, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a 62-year-old woman named Gloria Ristesund in South Dakota with $55 million for contributing to the development of her ovarian cancer. The products in question are Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
In February, the company also paid $72 million to the family of Jacqueline Fox from Tarrant, who died from ovarian cancer prior to the verdict. She claimed that Johnson & Johnson's talcum-based products also triggered her fatal disease.
Johnson & Johnson Urged To Own Up To Their Actions
Jere Beasley, principal and founder of the Beasley-Allen Law Firm and the representative of Fox, urged Johnson & Johnson to own up to their actions that they have kept hidden for decades, AL.com reported. Beasley said the company knew about the dangerous consequences of its talcum powder and feminine hygiene products to women but didn't do any measures to warn consumers.
Beasley said other manufacturers use cornstarch in their products that work in the same way. Johnson & Johnson, however, continued to use talc and insisted that it doesn't trigger ovarian cancer.
More Studies Being Done
Talc is a mineral that contains magnesium, silicon and oxygen, the American Cancer Society wrote. When it is made into powder, talc can absorb moisture and decrease friction, which helps the skin stay dry and rash-free. The asbestos involved in talc's natural form, however, is said to cause cancer in and around a person's lungs when inhaled.
There have been some studies that pointed to talcum powder's role in ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society's report, talcum powder particles can travel through the vagina up to the ovaries when applied to women's genital area or on sanitary napkins and condoms.
It should be noted, however, that these studies bore different results. Some women who used talcum powder posed higher risks of developing ovarian cancer, others only have small chances and some don't have increased risk at all.
Johnson & Johnson's Defense
A blog post from Johnson & Johnson defended the company's use of talcum products. In it, Johnson & Johnson cited various reports about how talc isn't causing ovarian cancer in women. The company also insisted that the talc they use in their products is free from asbestos.
