Asbestos in baby powder? What you need to know
Asbestos in baby powder? What you need to know
A group legal action is being brought by 3,000 people in the UK who believe their previous use of talcum powder has led to a cancer diagnosis.
Lawyers are pursuing a claim against the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson alleging that as early as the 1960’s it knew asbestos in its mineral-based talcum powder, most famously its baby powder, was dangerous but continued selling it until 2022 without warning consumers.
Compensation, which could run to hundreds of millions of pounds, is being sought by people who are suffering from, or have died from, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, which is usually caused by asbestos exposure, and other cancers.
What is the link between talc and asbestos?
Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring solid minerals which are often found close together in the earth. Talc deposits therefore also sometimes contain asbestos. When the talc is mined and then ground to a powder to make talcum, that talcum can also contain asbestos.
Talcum is still regularly used in a range of cosmetic products from eyeshadow to blusher, face powder to antiperspirants.
A total of 7.3 million tonnes of talc is mined every year with consumers largely unaware of any potential risks.
The sale of Johnson & Johnson baby powder containing talcum was ended in the UK in 2023. It is thought it potentially contained asbestos until this time when Johnson & Johnson switched to corn starch instead of talcum.
In the United States, where multiple lawsuits have been filed, it is reported that Johnson & Johnson has set aside more than $6 billion to settle ovarian cancer cases and more than $4 billion for those diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Why do scientists think talcum powder can be dangerous?
The focus has now moved to talc, and possible asbestos contamination, with scientists believing there is a connection between the long-term use of talcum powder and the increased risk of some cancers, particularly mesothelioma.
This is because any asbestos fibres in talcum can be easily inhaled and, once in the lungs, can result in cancerous changes to the mesothelium which lines the lungs, abdomen and heart.
A link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, an incurable cancer, was established in the 1960s but asbestos itself was not fully banned in the UK until 1999. However, due to its nature, the symptoms may develop many years, even decades, after asbestos exposure.
What does Johnson & Johnson say about the cancer and mesothelioma claims?
Johnson & Johnson, which never put warnings on its baby powder packaging relating to asbestos, denies knowing the minerals used in it were directly linked to cancers as well as any claims it knowingly sold baby powder contaminated with asbestos.
Johnson & Johnson has stated that its baby powder ‘was compliant with any required regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer’.
However, lawyers have referred to internal documents that, it is alleged, show Johnson & Johnson knew full well the risks as far back as the 1960s.
A recent BBC news article claimed the organisation had seen internal documents and communications, including one from 1973 which allegedly says: "Our baby powder contains talc fragments classifiable as fiber. Occasionally sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable…"
Fibrous tremolite and actinolite are forms of asbestos.
What should you do if you think you have mesothelioma caused by talcum powder use?
If you have been diagnosed with any asbestos-related illness – even if you’re not sure where or when you were exposed to the asbestos – taking specialist legal advice is vital.
This includes when:
- A family member has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.
- A loved one has died from asbestos exposure.
- You are diagnosed with a lung disease and believe you may have been exposed to asbestos in the past.
Often, a detailed conversation with a specialist solicitor with experience in asbestos litigation may help pinpoint the source and potential amount of any asbestos exposure.
Get in touch
Wards Solicitors is highlighted in the independent Legal 500 Guide for 2026 with our Personal Injury (claimant) service area singled out for particular praise.
Associate Solicitor, Richard Green, is highly experienced in this area of the law.
For a free initial consultation:
- Email Richard: green@wards.uk.com
- Email asbestos@wards.uk.com
- Phone Richard: 0117 929 2811