You’ve probably seen news stories about lawsuits surrounding baby powder that women say gave them ovarian cancer. You may have even heard that cosmetics from a certain store often in malls contained some asbestos. However, you may not consider that the makeup and other products you use on a daily basis may also contain some of this human carcinogen.
The Food and Drug Administration says it continues to conduct research to determine whether asbestos is in certain products. In fact, it recently issued yet another safety alert for this possibility. It warned consumers not to use certain cosmetics. The burning question you may have is why is this toxic substance even allowed to be in these products, and there is no easy answer.
The problem with talc
Many products, including cosmetics, use talc. It’s used to improve the feel of a product, prevent caking and make facial makeup opaque. Since this is a naturally occurring mineral, many people didn’t, and possibly don’t, think twice about it being in products they use every day.
The problem is that it tends to exist near asbestos, which is also a naturally occurring mineral. When companies mine talc, they may also end up mining asbestos at the same time. Research regarding the connection between talc and ovarian cancer goes back to the 1960s. Since the 1970s, researchers have wondered whether asbestos was in the talc.
The problem with asbestos
Due to the potential of contamination of talc with asbestos, it’s important to understand this mineral is highly toxic to humans. The FDA, EPA and other governmental agencies acknowledge the fact that this is a human carcinogen, which means it can cause several types of cancer. Consumers who use products containing it do not suffer the same exposure as those who work around it, but over time and with enough exposure, it is possible to contract a potentially deadly illness.
The problem with going it alone
The medical expenses and other financial losses associated with an asbestos-related disease can put a significant burden on you and your family. If you ended up with cancer and you believe it is due to at least one product containing asbestos, you may have legal recourse. However, these cases are notoriously challenging to litigate. Fortunately, you do not have to go through this alone. Consulting with a Louisiana attorney could provide you with invaluable advice and assistance in pursuing the compensation you deserve.