Last month, a federal jury awarded a record-breaking $32.7 million* to the widow of a former tire-plant worker who passed away from mesothelioma. It's the largest single-plaintiff verdict - and the largest mesothelioma-related verdict - in the history of North Carolina. Attorney Bill Graham, a partner at Wallace & Graham, represented the plaintiff.
A cancer warning to all talcum powder users
Generations of Americans have enjoyed the use of talcum powder as a regular part of their personal hygiene practices. Both men and women use it on their bodies to control sweating and provide a sense of freshness. Barbers use it on their customers after a cut and a shave. Mothers use it on their babies to keep their bottoms dry and free of rashes. The problem is recent research reveals that talcum powder could cause cancer.
Why is talcum powder dangerous?
More asbestos imports could lead to more dangerous exposures
There are many potential sources of asbestos exposure, all of which people should try to minimize. In some places, large-scale mining operations release asbestos fibers into the air, putting everyone in the community at risk. For professionals in certain fields, asbestos exposure may be part of the job. Some people may even have high levels of asbestos exposure due to attendance or working in certain schools.
Generally speaking, industries have transitioned to a more careful approach to asbestos in recent years, although that historically was not the case. Many businesses have chosen to cut corners when it comes to product testing, mine composition testing and even employee safety gear that could protect workers. These cost-cutting measures eventually result in asbestos exposure at dangerous levels for employees or even customers.
Lawsuits may help those with mesothelioma afford new treatments
Mesothelioma is a debilitating, deadly cancer that is often linked to long-term exposure to asbestos. For many people, treatment may prolong their life, but it will do little to slow the overall advance of the cancer.
Thankfully, modern research is providing more ways for people to fight back against this deadly disease.
Schools could be a source of asbestos exposure in professionals
Public schools should be a safe space in which students can learn and prepare for their bright futures. Parents often send their children off to class without much consideration for the potential health and safety risks associated with school. Unfortunately, many schools built prior to the 1980s actually have environments that are dangerous for both students and the professionals who work inside the building.
Report auditing records from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released in September of 2018 indicate that a large number of school buildings across the United States have unacceptable or even dangerous levels of asbestos contamination.
Recent talc trial ended in mistrial due to juror indecision
The health and beauty brand Johnson & Johnson has lost some really large lawsuits in recent months. Many of them stem from contamination claims related to their talcum powder, which Johnson & Johnson sells marketed as baby powder.
Several large rulings have been won by plaintiffs claiming that their serious cancers related to lifelong use of or exposure to Johnson & Johnson's talc powder. However, this big company has become more adept at creating seeds of doubt within jurors and continues to deny responsibility while also pushing back against rulings in favor of plaintiffs.
Science, talcum powder and cancer
The science community has not fully committed to the definitive link between women's talcum powder usage and ovarian and uterine cancers. But some oncology researchers — and several recent juries — have determined that a causal link exists.
The results of one such study appeared in an issue of the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention journal. The scientists discovered that intimate use of talcum powder causes a 24 percent uptick of risk for uterine cancer.
The relationship between talcum powder and cancer
Sometimes it seems as if half the products on the marketplace can cause cancer. With others, such as coffee, there appear to be both benefits and potential dangers with its consumption.
It can thus be quite challenging to determine whether a product you know and love contains carcinogens that can put your health and life at risk. However, when it comes to talcum powder and certain types of cancer, many experts urge caution if not outright avoidance.
Jury awards plaintiff in Roundup cancer lawsuit $289 million
The popular weed killing chemical known as Roundup, which is the brand name for glyphosate, is often considered safe for human exposure. The company that created Roundup, Monsanto, has insisted for decades that glyphosate has no adverse impact on human health. It is supposedly safe for use on any major crops that are Roundup ready.
The company does not label its Roundup products with any sort of warning about the long-term health consequences of those who have protracted and heavy levels of exposure. The failure on the part of Monsanto to recognize the potential dangers of this compound recently cost it a lot of money in a California courtroom. The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case well over a quarter of a billion dollars in damages.
Common myths about Mesothelioma
Exposure to asbestos through any means can cause major health problems and serious diseases. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that has been shown to be caused by exposure to asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos, whether in the form of talc or in building materials, it is important to understand more about the potential diseases that can result.
Mesothelioma is a non-hereditary disease, however, secondary exposure to asbestos is possible. If a person has asbestos in their lung, the asbestos can spread to close family and friends when they spend a lot of time together. This is why it is possible for several family members to suffer from mesothelioma.
