You may have heard that talcum powder can be dangerous. This is a type of powder that is made from talc and often contains additional elements like oxygen, silicone and magnesium. Commercial manufacturers sell it as a fine white powder, and it’s often used as a defense against rashes.
For example, talc powder has long been used in baby powder. It’s also been used in some facial powders and body powders that were marketed toward adults, not just toward small children. Many people have used these powders every single day, as part of their routine, so they were constantly being exposed to talc.
As talc itself is not inherently dangerous, what is the problem and why has this white powder lead to major lawsuits?
The link to cancer
The issue is that some brands of talcum powder (which is not pure talc) has been linked to cancer. Many women who used it frequently developed ovarian cancer. One of the biggest dangers is that asbestos can be found in some types of talc. Both talc and asbestos are natural elements that can be mined and extracted from the earth. Asbestos used to be widely used in building products, before it was determined that it could cause severe types of cancer, such as mesothelioma.
Those who used talc powder that contained asbestos may not have had any idea that they were constantly being exposed to these dangerous particles. But every time they breathed in even a small number of these asbestos particles, there was the potential that the particles could become trapped in their lungs. Once someone has been exposed to asbestos in any form, they will forever have an elevated risk of developing mesothelioma and other cancers.
What options do you have?
Perhaps you have been using talcum powder or you did use it in the past, and you’re worried about these ramifications. It’s important to understand your medical options and the legal options you may have to pursue compensation. Seeking medical and legal guidance accordingly may be efforts in your best interests.