Although the terms talcum powder and baby powder are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two products.
Talcum powder is an ingredient in baby powder. There could be other ingredients in baby powder, such as fragrances. You can buy talcum powder by itself. It is also used in a wide range of other products. This showcases a key difference between the terms- baby powder and talcum powder.
Products with Talcum Powder
There are some beauty and body care products that contain talcum powder. Some products include:
- Baby powder
- Body powder
- Face powder
- Eye shadow
- Blush
- Foundation
This list represents just some of the products that contain talcum powder. There is an even larger list of products that are still available to consumers that contain talc. No matter which products the talc is a part of, there is the potential risk of asbestos exposure from the talc.
Talc with Asbestos
Talc that is contaminated with asbestos can cause cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Specifically, mesothelioma, a very rare type of lung cancer, and epithelial ovarian cancer are much more common after asbestos exposure. If you suffered from one of these conditions after using baby powder or talcum powder regularly, you could be entitled to compensation. Discuss the details of what happened with a personal injury lawyer to have an understanding of what options for legal recourse may be possible.
Interchangeable Terms
Often, baby powder and talcum powder are utilized as interchangeable terms even if the terms do not technically describe the same product. When it comes to class action lawsuits and finding the right personal injury lawyer to take on your case, you might find that the terms are even further intertwined even though there is a difference between baby powder and talcum powder.
Impacts of Asbestos Exposure
The impacts of asbestos exposure can vary based on the amount and frequency of the exposure. Some types of asbestos exposure:
- Certain types of cancer
- Respiratory difficulty
- Fibrotic lung disease
- Lung scarring
- Pleural disease
Other impacts of asbestos exposure are possible. The larger the fragments of asbestos that are inhaled, the more damage that is typically done. Workers in textile factories or in the construction industry are at an increased risk of exposure to asbestos in general. However, you can still be exposed to asbestos through products available at baby, improvement, and drug stores. Baby powder, talcum powder, and cosmetics are still widely available.
Prevalence
Unfortunately, not all diseases show symptoms after exposure. Some asbestos-related diseases show signs between 25 and 50 years after the initial exposure. This can make it difficult to prove when and where the exposure occurred.
An even higher number of patients are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases each year. The mortality rate and prognosis for mesothelioma are not particularly promising. Some patients with mesothelioma die within the first few years after diagnosis, according to The Ochsner Journal.
Legal Action
Some talc-based products still contain traces of asbestos, according to the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. There are legal precedents for seeking compensation after being injured by talcum powder-based products. Essentially, you have been injured by a product that a company produced. The company should be held accountable. This often occurs in the form of class action lawsuits or with an individual lawsuit from the families impacted.
Sometimes it can be difficult to build a strong legal case for something that occurred over many years in the past. In some cases, talcum powder was used for decades but discontinued four or five years ago. It is possible that the product was discontinued well before the statute of limitations would apply in a personal injury case. This can make it more difficult, if not impossible, to pursue legal action. Your lawyer may work with you to see if you can find enough support and evidence to build a case.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured by talcum powder in the form of developing cancer or other injuries, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444. You can speak with a member of our team to learn more about your options for legal recourse. You may be surprised to learn that you still have options, even if the exposure happened many years ago. There is no cost to call, so there is nothing to lose even if you do not end up pursuing legal action.