Anisha Riggs
Perfumed dusting powder, a staple in many women's beauty routines in the 1980s and 1990s, has recently made a comeback on TikTok. While these powders are used to keep moisture at bay, soften the skin, and make the user smell good, concerns have been raised about their safety. Specifically, some talc-based products have tested positive for asbestos contamination, a harmful material known to cause lung tissue scarring and cancer when inhaled. As a result, lawsuits have been filed against companies like Johnson & Johnson, alleging that their talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Despite these concerns, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the cosmetic talc industry to self-monitor, and companies have started selling talc-free alternatives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety concerns | Talc, a primary ingredient in perfumed dusting powder, has been linked to asbestos contamination, which can cause lung tissue scarring and cancer. |
| Popularity | Perfumed dusting powders were popular in the 1980s and 1990s, but declined due to safety concerns about talc. They are now making a comeback, with people creating their own powders and companies selling talc-free alternatives. |
| Usage | Perfumed dusting powders are used to keep moisture at bay, soften the skin, and add fragrance to the body. They are applied to areas that tend to sweat, such as the underarms, neck, and under the breasts. |
| Alternatives | Some people have switched from perfumed dusting powders to lotions, perfumes, or deodorants/antiperspirants due to safety concerns about talc. |
| Lawsuits | Several companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Revlon, have faced lawsuits alleging that their talc-based products caused cancer or mesothelioma. |
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What You'll Learn
Johnson & Johnson's baby powder
The concerns surrounding Johnson & Johnson's baby powder began in 1997 when a woman alleged that using the company's baby powder led to her developing cancer. Although this case was dropped, similar lawsuits followed, causing the reputation of body powders to drop. This led to a decrease in the popularity and demand for body powders, with some companies choosing to stop selling them altogether.
In 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled some of its products in response to growing concerns about asbestos contamination. The company has undergone several investigations and has been ordered to pay billions of dollars to women who developed ovarian cancer, some of whom had already passed away. Despite these lawsuits, the link between talc and ovarian cancer has not been definitively proven, and the litigation outcomes have been mixed.
Johnson & Johnson has stood by the safety of its talc products and denies that they ever contained asbestos. The company has argued that studies have not demonstrated a convincing link between ovarian cancer and talc-based products. However, some experts disagree, stating that outdated testing methods may have led to dangerous levels of asbestos going undetected.
The debate surrounding the safety of perfumed dusting powders, including Johnson & Johnson's baby powder, has caused a shift in consumer preferences. While these products were once popular, particularly among Black women, safety concerns about talc have led to a decline in their use. However, with the recent revival of dusting powders on social media platforms like TikTok, companies have begun selling talc-free alternatives to meet consumer demands.
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Asbestos contamination
Perfumed dusting powder is a finely milled scented powder used on the body to absorb sweat and odour, soften the skin, and make the user smell good. It was a popular staple in many women's beauty routines in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly among Black women, but dropped out of the mainstream in the early 2000s due to safety concerns about talc, a primary ingredient in a lot of those powders.
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used as a sensory modifier and absorbent in powder products. While talc is not harmful by nature, some talc-based products have tested positive for asbestos contamination, which has given talc a bad reputation overall. Asbestos is a harmful material known to cause lung tissue scarring and cancer when its airborne fibres are inhaled.
In the 1970s, cancer researchers tested 20 powder products made with talc and found that 10 of them contained asbestos. This sparked widespread concern about talc, and in the following decades, thousands of lawsuits were filed claiming that talcum powders have contributed to cancer. In 1997, a claim was made against Johnson & Johnson, a prominent player in asbestos litigation, by a woman alleging that the use of the company's baby powder led to her developing cancer. The case was ultimately dropped, but other lawsuits arose in the following years, causing the reputation of body powders to drop. Johnson & Johnson has since recalled some of its products and discontinued its talc-containing baby powder.
Some perfumed dusting powders that have been found to contain asbestos include:
- Beloved Perfumed Dusting Powder
- Houbigant Chantilly Dusting Powder
- Revlon Jean Nate Silkening Body Powder
- Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower Body Powder
- Avon Tai Winds Spray Talc
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Talc safety concerns
In 1997, a woman alleged that Johnson & Johnson's baby powder led to her developing cancer. Although this case was dropped, similar lawsuits arose, causing the reputation of body powders to decline. Johnson & Johnson recalled some of its products in 2019 and discontinued its talc-containing baby powder in 2020. The company was ordered to pay over $2 billion to a group of women who developed ovarian cancer, some of whom had already passed away.
Despite these concerns, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the cosmetic talc industry to self-monitor the use of talc in cosmetics. The industry claims to test its talc for asbestos and use only asbestos-free talc. However, experts argue that the industry's testing methods are outdated and cannot effectively detect the presence of asbestos, leaving potentially dangerous levels of asbestos undetected.
Due to the safety concerns and negative publicity surrounding talc, some companies have started selling talc-free alternatives. For example, some people on TikTok are reviving the use of dusting powders by making their own talc-free versions.
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Cancer lawsuits
In another example, Monsanto has been hit with numerous lawsuits alleging that exposure to its Roundup weed killer caused non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. In 2018, a California jury awarded $289 million (later reduced to $78 million on appeal) to Dewayne Johnson, who claimed that his cancer was caused by Roundup. In 2019, Monsanto was ordered to pay $2 billion to a couple who were both diagnosed with cancer after using Roundup.
In addition to talcum powder and weed killers, other consumer products have been linked to cancer and resulted in lawsuits. For instance, there have been lawsuits against manufacturers of tanning beds, which have been shown to drastically increase the risk of skin cancer. Lawsuits have also been filed against companies that manufactured PFAS-containing firefighting foam, which has been linked to an increased risk of various types of cancer.
It's important to note that if you or someone you know has developed cancer due to negligence or exposure to a harmful product, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced attorney can help investigate your claim and determine if filing a lawsuit is the right course of action.
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Public wariness
The link between talcum powder and cancer has been under investigation for several decades. The National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society consider the use of talcum powder near the genitals a "risk factor" for ovarian cancer. In 1997, a claim was made against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that the use of the company's baby powder led to the development of cancer. Although the case was dropped, other lawsuits arose in subsequent years, further tarnishing the reputation of body powders.
In 2020, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay over $2 billion to a group of women, some of whom had already passed away, who developed ovarian cancer. This case, along with growing concerns about the potential health risks associated with talc, has led to a decline in the popularity of dusting powders. Many consumers feel that the risk is too high, especially considering that the cosmetic talc industry's testing methods for asbestos have been criticised as outdated and ineffective.
While not all talc products are contaminated, the public's wariness is understandable given the serious health implications associated with asbestos exposure. This wariness has prompted companies to create talc-free alternatives and explore other ingredients for their dusting powders, such as cornstarch or clay.
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Frequently asked questions
Perfumed dusting powder is potentially dangerous if it contains talc that is contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is a harmful material that can cause lung tissue scarring and cancer when inhaled.
In the 1970s, cancer researchers tested 20 powder products made with talc and found that half of them had asbestos. However, it is important to note that not all talc products are contaminated, and the cosmetic talc industry claims to only use asbestos-free talc.
Johnson & Johnson, a prominent manufacturer of talc products, has faced multiple lawsuits and investigations over allegations that its baby powder contained asbestos and caused cancer. Other companies that have been affected include Revlon, whose Jean Nate Silkening Body Powder was cited in a lawsuit alleging asbestos-contaminated talcum powder caused mesothelioma.
Yes, due to the concerns about talc, some companies have started selling talc-free alternatives. For example, some dusting powders are now made with cornstarch or clay instead of talc.
