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Johnson & Johnson Sentenced To Pay 4.7 Billion Dollars In Damages To Women Who Complain That Talc Is The Source Of Their Cancer

Johnson & Johnson Sentenced To Pay 4.7 Billion Dollars In Damages To Women Who Complain That Talc Is The Source Of Their Cancer

Although less and less recommended for infant hygiene because being a volatile product that can cause problems in the lungs of the latter, talc remains a reference in the field of hygiene. With its many virtues and its quality product to do everything, this famous powder is an ally of choice for many people and in many areas. However, it is possible that the talc is not as harmless as one might think.

Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder, for example, has been used for generations, but only recently has it been discovered that it can promote certain cancers.

Talc and its uses
Talc is a mineral powder that is obtained from magnesium silicate that has been used by men since antiquity. Its mattifying and absorbing properties make it a multi-purpose powder, used especially to protect the skin of babies, to avoid irritation of the skin after shaving, as antiperspirant, to absorb moisture in shoes and some women. use for their personal hygiene. The latter are 40% in the United States to make such use after the shower or bath.

However, the application of talc near the vaginal mucosa could be very dangerous.

The trial of Johnson & Johnson
Pursued by 22 women who claim that talc was the cause of their ovarian cancer, the Johnson & Johnson company was recently sentenced in US courts to pay $ 4.7 billion in damages. It failed in its duty to inform consumers about the ingredients contained in its products. Some of its products, including talc, contain in fact asbestos, a fibrous mineral which, according to the plaintiffs' lawyers, is found to contain particles in the ovarian tissues of many women.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen and it is therefore the fact that it is mixed with talc that would be problematic. All the more so in this case, the jurors had in their hands documents indicating that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the presence of asbestos in some of its products, a fact that it deliberately concealed from consumers.

A link between talc and cancer established since 1971
Concerning a potential link between talc and cancer, they do not date from the last rain. As early as 1971, researchers at the Welsh National School of Medicine had discovered the presence of talc particles in ovarian cancerous tissue.

On the other hand, studies have shown a correlation between the use of talc by women and the incidence of ovarian cancer. For scientists, the talc mineral particles are likely to cause cancer by causing an inflammatory reaction in the tissues where they accumulate.

What alternatives to talc?
If you are one of the people who can not imagine living without talc, whether for powdering your baby or other uses, but you are looking for the safety of the products you use, here are some alternatives to White powder.

Corn starch
Corn starch, which you may know as Maizena, has a consistency almost identical to that of talc and also has good absorbent properties. It is a natural and safe alternative that you can use to absorb moisture wherever you want.

Baking soda
Baking soda has a thousand uses and among them, it can be used as a natural deodorant instead of talc or, like him, as a deodorizer for your home.

Alternative currency powders
These powders marketed in some large areas as an alternative to talc contain natural flours with essential oils that give them a good smell. For example:

- Burt's Bee Baby Powder
- Honeybee Gardens Deodorant Powder
- The Honest Company Organic Baby Powder
- Nature's Baby Silky Sprinkling Powder
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