Historic settlement for over 1,300 survivors of clergy and adult abuse within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment for justice.
January 28, 2025
New scientific research adds weight to legal claims brought by tens of thousands of ovarian cancer victims that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products cause ovarian cancer.
The study, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that the association between talc usage and cancer is greater for people who used the powder frequently or for long periods of time.
The National Institutes of Health researchers’ findings were based on data from the Sister Study, a study of 50,884 American women from 2003 to 2009. The subjects — who were 35 to 74 years old at the time — each had a sister who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which put them at risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The study found that women who had applied talc to their genitals were more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
The NIH study focused on women who used talcum powder products like Johnson & Johnson’s iconic Johnson’s Baby Powder on their genitals from ages 10 to 13 and during the year before they enrolled in the study. Based on responses from study participants, researchers estimated that up to 56% of the women had used talc powder on their genitals at some point — and women in that group were more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. According to the study, the women in this group were more likely to be Black, less educated, and live in the South compared to those who didn’t use the talc powder.
Another Study Supports NIH Findings Regarding Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer
In another study, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conducted a systematic review of the relationship between asbestos and ovarian cancer. According to the IARC, this meta-analysis of studies provides evidence of a significant association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer mortality. Talc and asbestos are similar inorganic compounds that are frequently found together in the same mineral deposits. Research has shown that talc products are often contaminated with asbestos.
“While the possibilities of misdiagnosis in earlier studies cannot be ruled out,” the IARC concludes, “recent findings suggest a robust correlation between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer.”
Why Asbestos Is Harmful
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that naturally occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, it has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. It is also widely used in a range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials, friction products, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. Talc and asbestos frequently develop together in the same mineral deposits, so when talc is mined, asbestos is frequently found in the mix.
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Confidential settlement for the wife of a Rhode Island man who died of mesothelioma cancer after exposure to window glazing compound contaminated with asbestos.