For years, the common notion has been that you can only be exposed to asbestos if you worked in a factory, a construction site, or a shipyard. However, new studies have debunked this notion, with evidence showing that consumers using everyday products, such as talcum powder, have also been exposed.
Some of these consumers are now battling peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer linked to asbestos. Lawsuits are shifting toward cosmetic talc manufacturers and retailers as more evidence connects these products to long-term health risks.
Talc Use and Mesothelioma
A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine looked at 75 mesothelioma cases where patients had zero history of working around asbestos. The common link was the daily use of talcum powder. Researchers even found asbestos fibers in their tissue samples, proving exposure came from consumer products, not industrial jobs.
What makes this discovery even more alarming is that most of the cases involved women who had been using talc-based powders for years. Some were also hairdressers and makeup artists who regularly inhaled talc dust while working. This study challenges the long-held belief that asbestos exposure only affects men in high-risk jobs.
Major Lawsuits Against Talc Companies
Talc-related lawsuits have been making headlines, with big-name companies facing massive legal battles. Some of these include:
- Johnson & Johnson set aside $8.9 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits from people claiming their talc-based baby powder caused cancer.
- A New Jersey jury awarded $117 million to a man who blamed his mesothelioma on years of using a talc product.
- Colgate-Palmolive has been hit with over 170 lawsuits linked to its old talc-based products.
What Are Some of the Challenges of Proving Exposure?
Unlike workers in factories who can use job records to prove exposure, regular consumers don’t usually have receipts from products they bought decades ago. As a result, talc cases are harder to prove. However, legal teams have been building strong cases using other evidence, such as:
- Lab testing showing asbestos in certain talc products.
- Medical records that connect talc exposure to specific cancers.
- Internal company documents proving some brands knew about contamination but kept selling their products anyway.
Contact Pourciau Law Firm today to discuss your legal options and fight for the justice you deserve.