Globally, the market size of Talcum Powder in 2021 was USD 2.80 Billion. It’s expected to be USD 4.67 Billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 6.0%. Two out of every five women consider talcum powder as their personal care staple and use it daily. Since it’s a moisture-absorbing agent, women use it to stay fresh.
Women also use it to avert irritation and chafing in thighs, underarms, and genital areas. But is talcum powder safe? Not quite. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found out that talc contains asbestos, which is carcinogenic and leads to ovarian cancer.
The Dark Side of Talcum Powder
Talcum powder gets formed by crushing, milling, and drying mined talc rocks, having silicon and magnesium. It has asbestos, which causes mesotheliomas. Also, talc powder might contain minute fibers, which take a long time to dissolve.
Seeking Justice – Legal Complaints Against Talcum Powder Damages
Recently, Johnson & Johnson met with many lawsuits for asbestos-polluted talcum powder. It’s true for its baby powder. In April 2020, several consumers reported cancer diagnoses resulting from using talc products of this brand. As a result, J&J stopped selling its Baby Powder products in Canada and the United States.
In 2022, the company had 38,000 lawsuits and shelled out about $4 billion in verdicts, settlements, and defense expenses. Finally, J&J stated in August 2022 that it would not manufacture talcum powder products in 2023. Instead, they will try to substitute it with cornstarch.
Sufferers have a way out through legal action. TorHoerman Law helps those who develop mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after using talc-containing products by filing a talcum powder lawsuit. They have generated more than $4 billion for the victims since 2009.
The team of attorneys at TorHoerman Law helps decide the right time frame for every case, depending on the claim facts and the state where the lawsuit needs to be filed.
Talc and Cancer in Women–Insightful Studies to Count On
Expert researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIH conducted the study – Association of Powder Use in the Genital Area with Risk of Ovarian Cancer. The objective was to study the connection between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer.
The study was published in JAMA and sourced data from 252,745 women who shared whether they used talcum powder in their intimate areas or not. Katie O’Brien, an epidemiologist, supervised the study. She shared that women who use talc have a risk of developing ovarian cancer by 8% compared to the ones who don’t use it.
Dr. Daniel Cramer, a researcher at Harvard University, supports this claim. Delving deep into this health concern for almost 40 years, he shares his findings.
He says the small particles of talcum powder travel to a woman’s vaginal canal and then to the ovaries. For several years, the particles stay there, resulting in acute inflammation, which turns into cancer.
Yet, organizations like U.S. Food and Drug Administration and The American Cancer Society still consider this claim as “blurred.” They need further evidence to conclude.
Talcum Powder and Other Health Hazards
Collaborators from the Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Stalo Karageorgi conducted research that got published in “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.” The research established a link between Endometrial cancer and talcum powder. Post-menopausal women can develop endometrial cancer from talcum powder use.
MedlinePlus shared that women who get exposed to an increased amount of talcum powder can develop lung ailments and cancer. According to a British Medical Journal report, a baby of 12 weeks suffered immensely after inhaling baby powder during a diaper change.
A review published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine reported that talc miners have a high chance of developing lung cancer. Other health hazards include talcosis, pneumonia, and granulomatosis.
Conclusion
Talcum powder use in babies and women has had much controversy so far! But when health is the focus area, exercising caution is essential. So, how can one go about it?
The answer lies in using safe alternatives. For babies, a homemade diaper rash cream containing calendula, coconut oil, witch hazel, shea butter, and beeswax is ideal. Another safe option is magnesium oil.
Women can look at cornstarch as an alternative. It might rob the glamor quotient but will help women and kids to steer clear of dangerous talcum powder-related health ailments.