A new scientific report by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests a strong and credible link between the use of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder products and developing malignant mesothelioma. The case study was published in the organization’s Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, looking into the cases of 33 patients confirmed to have malignant mesothelioma and whose only known exposure to asbestos may have come from using tainted talcum powder in cosmetic products.
All of the patients in the study are involved in talcum powder cancer lawsuits against cosmetics companies. The authors went into greater detail on the conditions of six patients who underwent tissue analysis showing asbestos fibers consistent with those that would be found in contaminated talcum powder. The study’s authors pointed out that the asbestos fibers discovered were not consistent with the types of asbestos fibers which would be found in industrial settings, such as insulation or other building materials.
The report is just the latest in a series of bad news for Johnson & Johnson, which currently faces an estimated 14,000 talcum powder cancer lawsuits accusing the company of knowingly manufacturing and marketing dangerous talc-based products. Thus far, juries in state and federal courts have awarded plaintiffs over $5 billion in combined compensation in trials against Johnson & Johnson, which continues to litigate cases and deny responsibility for any wrongdoing.
In October 2019, Johnson & Johnson initiated a recall of 33,000 bottles of Baby Powder produced in 2018 after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted the company to testing showing the lost was contaminated with asbestos fibers. Although talc does not contain asbestos itself, the two are both naturally occurring minerals which can often be found side by side one another. If talc sourcing companies do not take proper precautions when harvesting and processing talc, the mineral can become contaminated with deadly asbestos fibers.
In December 2018, a Reuters report analyzing thousands of pages of internal Johnson & Johnson documents showed that the company knew about the risks of asbestos in Baby Powder going all the way back to the 1970s. Despite the mounting evidence suggesting Johnson & Johnson knew is products contained asbestos and the scientific link between asbestos exposure and developing mesothelioma, the company continues to deny liability.
Exposure to asbestos is directly linked to developing mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer commonly known to affect thin lining of tissue surrounding vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity. When victims develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure by negligent parties, the law gives victims the righto file mesothelioma cancer lawsuits to recover compensation for damages.
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If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.