An Iowa talcum powder cancer lawsuit could be an option for women who used baby powder products for feminine hygiene and developed ovarian cancer. Talcum powder is present in a number of consumer products, including many types of cosmetics. Products containing talc have also been associated with other types of cancers, as well as serious respiratory ailments for those exposed to the substance over extended periods of time. Affected women and their families may be able to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of an Iowa talcum powder lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Talcum Powder?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists some of the many applications of talcum powder. Talc is a naturally occurring mineral mined from the earth that is made up of magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. Because of its numerous beneficial properties, talcum powder is a common ingredient in a number of different consumer products. Oral tablets often utilize talc during production due to its lubricating abilities, and it is also commonly found in foodstuffs (such as rice). Talc’s ability to absorb moisture makes it a staple in many cosmetics, including baby powders, antiperspirants and some types of makeup.
Talc Based Products and Asbestos
The FDA also addresses the possibility of asbestos contamination in some products containing talc. This stems from the fact that both minerals can be found under the same conditions, which led the agency to survey talc-based products currently on the market for potential contamination. While their testing showed no presence of talc in the samples provided by four suppliers of commercial talc, evidence of contamination has been cited in other instances.
The National Institutes of Health details a study that discovered a link between a brand of talcum powder and the development of mesothelioma in a woman whose tissue was found to have evidence of asbestos contamination upon autopsy. Testing of the sample product also showed the presence of asbestos, despite the carcinogen being banned from consumer products for a number of years. While the testing was conducted on only one line of talc-based products, it does raise questions about the likelihood of other items currently on the market also being contaminated by asbestos.
Talcum Powder Side Effects
In addition to the risk of mesothelioma, talcum powder may also be linked with the development of ovarian cancer in some women. The American Cancer Society details the supposed association between using talc-based baby powders for feminine hygiene and cancer of the ovaries. Even in cases where talcum powders are shown to be free of asbestos, there still remains a potential increase of one’s cancer risk. For instance, some lab testing done on animals points to an increased likelihood of tumor formation when exposed to large amounts of talcum powder. Human test subjects have also exhibited a link between cancer and long-term talcum powder usage, although some studies have conflicted. Despite these conflicts, the ACA recommends caution when using baby powders for feminine hygiene purposes.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits
While manufacturers of talc-based products continue to assert their safety to consumers, many of those injured cite a failure to adequately warn women of the associated dangers of talcum powder. This has led to numerous lawsuits, including one recently filed on behalf of a women who used talcum powder regularly over the course of 35 years.
The Washington Post reports on this case, in which a jury awarded the family of the deceased women $72 million as a result of her ovarian cancer and subsequent death. The lawsuit alleged that the company was well-aware of the possible dangers of their products, but failed to offer adequate warnings about their usage. There were also references to an internal memo provided to the company by a medical consultant which compared using talc-based powder for feminine hygiene purposes to smoking cigarettes in terms of cancer risk.
How an Iowa Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit Can Help
When people suffer from severe side effects from a dangerous or defective product, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. The types of losses that can be recovered include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of an ability to work; and
- Pain and suffering
If a person dies from complications caused by a defective product, family members may be able to recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses prior to death
- Loss of economic support; and
- Loss of companionship
If the conduct of a company in manufacturing and selling a product is found to be highly reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future.
Affected women and their families are encouraged to seek the advice of an Iowa talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
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