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Cosmetic Talc Litigation Media Coverage November 18, 2016
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Washington and Oregon women file lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after baby powder linked to cancer
Nov 17, 2016 | Q13 FOX
Families in Washington and Oregon filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson Thursday saying the company knew its baby powder was linked to ovarian cancer but never warned them. -
Record $18M Verdict in Mesothelioma-Talcum Powder Lawsuit
Nov 17, 2016 | Asbestos.com
By Matt Mauney
The recent record-setting $18 million verdict out of California rekindled the hotly debated link between talcum powder and mesothelioma cancer. -
Is Baby Powder Safe?
Nov 18, 2016 | BoldSky
By Praveen Kumar
Most of the mothers use baby powder on the skin of the newly born babies. Is it really safe? Or does it cause any side effects? Well, though there isn't enough evidence on this, some sources claim that baby powder isn't healthy?
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Nov 17, 2016 | Q13 FOX
SEATTLE – Families in Washington and Oregon filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson Thursday saying the company knew its baby powder was linked to ovarian cancer but never warned them.
Four women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after the regular use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for decades.
“If we use it for our babies, why would any consumer question its safety? Women and athletes are encouraged to use these products to stay fresh,” said attorney Cheryl L. Snow of the Law Offices of James S. Rogers based in Seattle. “Johnson & Johnson knew, but concealed theses risks to consumers despite the risks and links to ovarian cancer.”
The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Johnson & Johnson on behalf of four women from Washington and Oregon, including a woman from Oregon who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2015.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuits include:
· Peggy Grundy of Multnomah County, Oregon. Grundy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2008 after using the product for decades. She passed away from ovarian cancer on Feb. 23, 2015.
· Annalisa Tiffany Woltersdorf of Kitsap County, Washington. Woltersdorf was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2016 after using the product for decades.
· Marcy McBride of Spokane County, Washington. McBride was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2010 after using the product for decades.
· Meredith Muller of Whatcom County, Washington. Muller was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2013 after using the product for decades.
Attorney James S. Rogers notes many cancer-stricken victims are just realizing the link to their use of baby powder and cancer diagnosis.
“Talc is a carcinogenic mineral,” Rogers said. “Numerous studies have linked it to ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, Johnson & Johnson consumers were never warned about the dangers of these products when used regularly for decades.”
Johnson & Johnson issued this statement:
“We recognize that women and families affected by ovarian cancer are searching for answers, and we deeply sympathize with everyone affected by this devastating disease. We are defending the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder because science, research, clinical evidence and decades of studies by medical experts around the world continue to support the safety of cosmetic talc.”
http://q13fox.com/2016/11/17/4-washington-and-oregon-women-file-lawsuit-against-johnson-johnson-after-baby-powder-linked-to-cancer/
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Record $18M Verdict in Mesothelioma-Talcum Powder Lawsuit
Nov 17, 2016 | Asbestos.com
By Matt Mauney
The recent record-setting $18 million verdict out of California rekindled the hotly debated link between talcum powder and mesothelioma cancer.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded Philip Depoian the multimillion-dollar verdict against talc supplier Whittaker, Clark & Daniels.
Depoian claimed the company’s asbestos-tainted talcum powder products used at the barbershop where his father worked exposed him to the deadly substance.
He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, in May 2015.
Talcum powder is made from talc, one of the world’s softest minerals coveted for its ability to improve textural feel and absorb moisture. Unfortunately, talc deposits often are interwoven with asbestos fibers.Talc Supplier Didn’t Sufficiently Test for Asbestos
The lawsuit accused Whittaker, Clark & Daniels of marketing its talc as asbestos-free without adequately testing for traces of the toxic mineral.
The company supplied talc for several popular consumer talcum powder products, such as Desert Flower, Old Spice and Friendship Garden, in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The talc in those products originated from some asbestos-contaminated mines in North Carolina, Alabama and northern Italy.
After a six-week trial, the jury reached the verdict on Oct. 19, finding Whittaker, Clark & Daniels 30 percent at fault for Depoian’s injuries. However, before the jury could decide on punitive damages, the plaintiff agreed to a confidential settlement with the company.History of Asbestos-Talc Litigation
Depoian’s case is the largest jury award for mesothelioma linked to talcum powder. These types of claims rarely go to trial. Most cases settle out court, but a few notable rulings preceded Depoian’s case.
In May 2015, Judith Winkel won a settlement with Colgate-Palmolive Co. after she claimed asbestos in the company’s Cashmere Bouquet product led to her mesothelioma.
Court records showed the California resident regularly used the popular scented talcum powder from 1961 to 1976. The jury awarded Winkel $13 million in damages, but the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount as jurors considered tacking on punitive damages.
Officials for Colgate-Palmolive later rejected the jury’s verdict, saying their talcum powder product is safe and did not cause Winkel’s cancer. The trial determined the company was 95 percent responsible for her diagnosis.
Depoian’s case also isn’t the first asbestos exposure claim against Whittaker, Clark & Daniels.
The family of Long Island resident Joan Robusto won a landmark $7 million verdict against the company in November 2015 in New York’s first asbestos contaminated consumer talcum powder trial. Robusto died of mesothelioma as a result of her longtime use of Desert Flower.
A 2013 ruling awarded a $2 million verdict to a New Jersey woman with mesothelioma. Court records showed her father worked at the factory that produced Old Spice and Desert Flower talcum powders, which blanketed his work clothes.
When he returned home without changing his outfit, he unknowingly exposed his family to the asbestos-laced talc that remained on his clothes.
Robusto’s case is a classic example of secondhand asbestos exposure.
While occupational asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of mesothelioma, asbestos fibers inadvertently carried home from the workplace pose a significant threat for asbestos-related diseases, especially among women and children.Is Asbestos Still in Talcum Powder?
It’s not clear if talcum powder still contains asbestos.
Federal regulations on talcum powder didn’t exist until 1973, when a law passed requiring commercial talc products be asbestos-free and adequately tested.
While heavily used before the mid-1970s, talc products are still sold today. The natural mineral can be found in many pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chalk, rubber and ceramics.
The debate on its safety continues today.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested dozens of talc-containing cosmetic products for traces of asbestos in a 2012 study. The report found no asbestos fibers or structures in any of the samples; however, the results were limited because only four talc suppliers submitted samples.
“For these reasons, while FDA finds these results informative, they do not prove that most or all talc or talc-containing cosmetic products currently marketed in the United States are likely to be free of asbestos contamination,” the FDA concluded.Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
The majority of claims involving asbestos-laced talcum powder are associated with ovarian cancer, not mesothelioma.
Occupational studies as early as the 1960s showed toxic asbestos fibers can accumulate in the ovaries of some women, potentially leading to cancer. While researchers say asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer, there are still inconsistencies regarding exposure pathways.
Some researchers suspect the use of talc products on the genitals could be to blame.
Typically, asbestos exposure occurs when someone inhales or swallows asbestos fibers. These pathways are almost exclusively the cause of mesothelioma, and can also lead to other respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and asbestos lung cancer.
No amount of exposure is considered safe, but repeated, long-term exposure puts people at a higher risk.
Peritoneal mesothelioma, a type of mesothelioma that develops along the lining of the abdomen, has been misdiagnosed as ovarian cancer.
Studies have also raised health concerns for asbestos-free talcum powder.
A 2013 study from the American Association for Cancer Research showed talcum powder without asbestos is associated with a 20-30 percent increase in risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer.
https://www.asbestos.com/news/2016/11/17/record-18-million-verdict-mesothelioma-talcum-lawsuit/
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Nov 18, 2016 | BoldSky
By Praveen Kumar
Most of the mothers use baby powder on the skin of the newly born babies. Is it really safe? Or does it cause any side effects? Well, though there isn't enough evidence on this, some sources claim that baby powder isn't healthy?
Talcum powder is a derivative of talc. And what's talc? It is a mineral which contains asbestos. And asbestos contains magnesium, oxygen, silicon etc. Some brands of baby powders use corn starch.
Baby powder is generally used to keep the tender skin of the baby dry. But using it around the private parts of both babies and adults could have harmful effects.
Some studies claim that avoiding talcum powder for babies is better. Even for adults, it may not prove safe as health experts say that talcum powder may contain cancer-causing agents.
Are all powders unsafe? Well, only the powders that contain asbestos are unsafe. But enough research hasn't been done on other types of powders that don't contain asbestos.
Can your baby do without it? Of course yes. Keep the skin clean and dry. If your baby develops a diaper rash, use a cream to heal it. Ensure that the skin gets enough air and is always dry.
Some types of powders even clog the pores and make it tough for the skin to breathe. In fact, the particles of the powder may also cause breathing problems in some. If you still wish to use talcum baby powder, consult your family doctor for advice.
http://www.boldsky.com/pregnancy-parenting/baby/2016/is-baby-powder-safe/gallery-cl6-107961.html
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