Talcum Powder and Asbestos

What Is Talcum Powder?

Talcum powder consists primarily of talc, a soft mineral that forms naturally and is composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. Talc can be green, white or gray and has a texture like soap. 

Manufacturers of talcum powder grind talc down until it is a fine powder that absorbs moisture and reduces friction. Talcum powder became popular as an ingredient in baby powder, cosmetics and deodorant for its ability to disguise odor and prevent chafing and skin rashes. 

For more than 100 years, Johnson & Johnson has been the most famous name in talcum powder products, mainly through its line of baby powders. Men and women of all ages use baby powder and other talc-containing products routinely.

Is Talcum Powder Dangerous?

Risks associated with talcum powder stem from the toxic effects of talc dust and the potential contamination of talc with asbestos. Some consumer and industrial products contained dangerous levels of asbestos-contaminated talc.

Talc dust can irritate the respiratory system by causing coughs, chest pain and shortness of breath. However, asbestos-contaminated talc is much more dangerous. Talc and asbestos can naturally form so closely together that mining practices cannot keep them separated. 

Not every talc deposit is contaminated with asbestos. However, contaminated talc tends to contain highly carcinogenic (cancer-causing) forms of asbestos, such as tremolite or anthophyllite. These forms are more carcinogenic than chrysotile, the most-used type of asbestos. 

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos-Contaminated Talc Exposure?

Children, adult consumers and workers in specific industries are at risk of exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder. Tests as recent as 2018 and as far back as 2000 have revealed asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in children’s toys and makeup.

Anyone who has used talc consistently for many years, or has a known history of asbestos exposure, should talk with their doctor at the first sign of any respiratory symptoms. Additionally, you may want to seek the opinion of a mesothelioma specialist or a pulmonologist with experience in asbestos-related diseases.

Talcum Powder and Mesothelioma

Exposure to pure talc does not cause mesothelioma but may cause ovarian cancer in women and possibly lung cancer in talc miners. Studies have shown excess cases of lung cancer in talc miners throughout the world, and these studies found asbestos in talc samples. Talc contaminated with asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers. A decades-long latency period of 20 to 60 years is associated with the condition.

Other Asbestos-Related Cancers

In addition to mesothelioma, several studies have linked exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder with lung and ovarian cancer. 

After using baby powder as part of a regular hygiene routine, thousands of women have filed an asbestos lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and other baby powder manufacturers. These claims allege that repeated use of talc led to ovarian cancer.

A specialist who can diagnose these conditions early and treat them with the latest therapies offers the best chance of long-term survival. People who believe their lung cancer or ovarian cancer was caused by talc exposure may file personal injury lawsuits to access compensation.

Asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder

In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced it would stop selling its talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in favor of a cornstarch-based version. It claimed the change was due to a decline in sales and “misinformation” around the product’s safety. 

By then, Johnson & Johnson was aware of asbestos contamination in its talc products but continued selling them domestically. In addition, the company said international sales of talc-based baby powder would continue because demand remained high. In 2022, however, the company reversed its decision and halted all sales of the talc-based version worldwide.

The decision to end sales of the talc-based baby powder followed reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 about asbestos contamination in a bottle of Johnson’s Baby Powder. This report forced the company to issue a recall of the batch associated with the bottle.

Asbestos lawsuits from Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder have cost the company billions in settlements and jury verdicts. In April 2022, U.S. federal Judge Michael Kaplan ruled that, although Johnson & Johnson’s bankruptcy plan was the most notable of its kind, it did not halt a class-action lawsuit filed by workers injured by industrial talc in the 1980s.

J&J’s bankruptcy plan was rejected in January 2023 by a federal appeals court. The ruling will allow thousands of lawsuits to return to civil courts.

In October 2021, J&J created a subsidiary to absorb its talc liabilities. The subsidiary declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will establish a plan to settle ongoing and potential future talc lawsuits. Asbestos manufacturers similarly use bankruptcy proceedings to create asbestos trust funds.

J&J settled roughly 1,000 talc lawsuits in October 2020 for more than $100 million. For example, the Missouri Court of Appeals ordered the company in June 2020 to pay $2.1 billion to 22 women who claimed Johnson’s Baby Powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The company also paid out millions in individual lawsuits, including $325 million in 2019 to Donna Olsen, who claimed she developed mesothelioma after using Johnson’s Baby Powder.

Talc Products Containing Asbestos

The most widely used consumer talc product is talcum powder. However, talc is a common ingredient in many home and industrial goods. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found asbestos in various talc products, personal hygiene products and makeup, and industrial talc, such as raw talc, used to thicken paint. 

Several companies were involved in supplying, distributing or manufacturing contaminated goods.

Contamination levels of asbestos in talc products have ranged from trace amounts in cosmetics to significant levels reaching 50% and higher in industrial products such as Nytal.

Talc in Makeup

In addition to talcum powder, cosmetic-grade talc is in many cosmetic products, including foundation, creams and moisturizers, eye shadow, blush and mascara. Cosmetic-grade talc is approximately 98% pure talc.

In November 2020, the Environmental Working Group found asbestos-contaminated talc in three out of 21 cosmetics samples tested. The FDA found asbestos in nine out of 52 cosmetics samples in 2019. 

Several cases of talc contamination involved children’s makeup sold by national retailers Justice and Claire’s in 2017 and 2018.

Industrial Talc Products

Industrial talc is used in producing many modern products, such as paint and glazes, to improve texture and enhance matting and paint adhesion. In addition, the paper industry uses talc to enhance printability and reduce surface friction. Wastewater treatment plants also use talc to purify water.

Industrial-grade talc contains other minerals in varying quantities, depending on where it’s sourced. For example, the industrial talc product used in ceramics known as Nytal 100 contains 30% talc, 40% tremolite, 20% serpentine and 10% anthophyllite asbestos.

Lawsuits for Talc Asbestos Exposure

Talc exposure lawsuits are available for victims of asbestos-related illnesses and surviving family members of those exposed to contaminated-talc products. Courts have awarded millions of dollars in recent talc lawsuits and trust funds established after company bankruptcies. 

Records revealed in lawsuits show that some of these manufacturers and talc suppliers, such as Vanderbilt Minerals, Imerys Talc America and Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, were aware of asbestos contamination and tried to cover it up. In one example, Imerys blended its talc with other sources of talc to dilute the asbestos concentration.

Many companies sourced their talc from asbestos-contaminated mines, including sites in New York, North Carolina, Alabama, Vermont and northern Italy. Some of the products sold in the U.S. that tested positive for asbestos, including children’s makeup sold by Claire’s stores, were made in China, which has no regulations for asbestos or talc. Claire’s recalled the children’s products that tested positive for asbestos in 2017 and 2018.

Compensation is available to people who develop mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder through a personal injury lawsuit. If you’ve lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Settlements resolve some of these lawsuits, and others resolve through a jury trial.

Talc Lawsuits Filed by UK Residents

Residents of the United Kingdom began filing talc lawsuits in U.S. courts in 2019. Rulings from these cases determined that U.S. courts are the best venue for talc lawsuits filed by U.K. residents.

U.K. women have received multimillion-pound awards since these rulings. 

In 2019, Hanna Louise Fletcher filed the first U.K. talc lawsuit in New York City courts. It claimed she developed mesothelioma at the age of 45. The lawsuit said she used her mother’s talc products as a child. It also claimed she purchased contaminated talc products in the U.S. while on vacation. 

The judge ruled that the case should remain in New York because it is the defendants’ principal place of business. The fact that the plaintiff purchased products in New York also played a role in the judge’s ruling. 

FAQ

Is talcum powder safe to use?

Many companies, including Johnson & Johnson, claim that talc is safe for cosmetic and personal hygiene products worldwide. However, recent research and multiple cancer organizations warn that contaminated talcum powder can increase the risk of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and other malignancies.

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital caution that breathing in noncontaminated talcum powder can lead to lung problems or death. The World Health Organization classifies perineal (genital) use of talc as possibly carcinogenic to humans. It also classifies asbestos-contaminated talc as definitely carcinogenic to humans.

What are some safe alternatives to talcum powder?

The most common alternative to talcum powder is cornstarch. Widely available in grocery stores, drugstores and online, cornstarch can provide many of the same benefits as talcum powder without the risk of cancer.

Other alternatives to talcum powder include baking soda, tapioca starch, rice starch and oat flour.

How does asbestos get into talcum powder?

Talc and asbestos are minerals that naturally form close to one another. Some talc deposits are contaminated with asbestos, and they are difficult to separate, which is how asbestos ends up in the final product.

How does talcum powder cause cancer?

Asbestos in contaminated talcum powder can be inhaled while applying the product. If used on the genitals, asbestos can travel inside the body. Once inside the body, asbestos fibers migrate to sensitive tissues in the pelvis, chest and abdomen, slowly causing diseases such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

Can you get compensation for talc-related mesothelioma?

Asbestos contamination causes talc-related mesothelioma, and affected patients have the right to file an asbestos claim. A mesothelioma lawyer helps patients claim compensation for medical costs and related expenses.