
Reports of Asbestos in Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder
Baby powder is typically composed of talc, and depending on the manufacturer, this talc is mined from a variety of places around the world. Talc that has come from some of these sources has been found to contain tremolite, a form of asbestos that occurs naturally. Baby powder manufactured by the company Johnson & Johnson is one such product that has been found to contain asbestos. As a result, the company is facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that their product has caused harm. In March of 2019, a jury in California awarded $29 million to a woman who claimed that her cancer was caused by use of Johnson & Johnson’s products, and in 2018, a group of women in Missouri were awarded $4.69 billion because they contracted ovarian cancer after using baby powder.
The Johnson & Johnson case is particularly striking, because investigations have found that the company has known about the potential danger of asbestos in its products for decades. While Johnson & Johnson has claimed that it took steps to ensure that its baby powder is asbestos-free, internal company documents have been uncovered showing that personnel were aware of the risks of asbestos, and data was allegedly misrepresented when reporting the results of product tests to the FDA.
Mesothelioma Resulting from Asbestos Inhalation
Asbestos is known to be incredibly dangerous, and when it is inhaled, it can lead to mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer. When asbestos becomes embedded in the lining of a person’s chest cavity, it causes this lining to become unable to absorb fluids. This leads to a buildup of fluid in a person’s lungs, which can cause tumors to grow in the diaphragm and chest. It is also likely to lead to congestive heart failure.
Contact a Schaumburg Dangerous Products Attorney
If you have contracted mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, or any other harmful medical condition after using baby powder, the skilled Palatine product liability lawyer at Drost, Gilbert, Andrew & Apicella, LLC can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation. We will work with you to determine the full extent of your damages, establish liability on the part of a negligent product manufacturer, and take legal action to ensure that you recover damages that fully address the harm that was done to you. Contact us at 847-934-6000 for a free consultation.
About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
http://fortune.com/2019/03/15/cancer-asbestos-johnson-jnj-baby-talcum-powder-trial/