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Researchers from Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston claim that talcum powder may increase the risk of ovarian cancer by 33%.
The study published in the journal Epidemiology came out following the St. Louis jury’s decision to make Johnson & Johnson pay $72 million in damages to the family of a woman who apparently died of ovarian cancer after using baby powder.
The study looked into 2,041 women suffering from ovarian cancer and 2,100 women who are disease-free. They were asked about their talcum powder use.
Their findings revealed that when women regularly apply talcum powder on their genitals, tampons, sanitary pads, and underwear, they have a one-third risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
According to lead study author Dr. Daniel Cramer, talc, which is a good drying agent, can get into the vagina and upper genital tract when used repeatedly.
“Talc is a good drying agent, but women should know that if it’s used repeatedly, it can get into the vagina and into their upper genital tract,” he explained.
Made of magnesium, oxygen, and silicon, talc absorbs moisture but may contain asbestos, a known carcinogen in its natural form.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not list talc as a risk factor for ovarian cancer since all commercial products in the US have been asbestos-free since the 1970s. Dr. Cramer told Reuters that talcum powder should have warning labels.
Still, Dr. Nicholas Wentzensen of the National Cancer Institute is not fully convinced with the result of the study. Dr. Wentzensen believes that the methods used should be tested in order to confirm the study’s findings.
