Parents and Caregivers
Applied baby powder during diaper changes and after baths, creating repeated inhalation exposure for both the caregiver and the child.
THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR
Asbestos Was in the Baby Powder. Now Families Are Fighting Back.
For decades, companies sold talc products contaminated with asbestos, a mineral that causes mesothelioma. Internal documents show they knew. Juries have awarded over $1.7 billion in talc-mesothelioma verdicts in 2025 alone.
0+
Asbestos Lawsuits Filed in 2025
0+
Years of Hidden Evidence
0+
Talc-Specific Cases Filed in 2024
~0%
Of Mesothelioma Cases Now Cite Talc
Sources: KCIC Annual Reports 2020–2024, KCIC 2025 Mid-Year Insights, court filings, Reuters, Bloomberg Law.
THE CRISIS
What Happened With Talc and Asbestos?
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in baby powder, body powder, cosmetics, and other consumer products. Because talc and asbestos form in similar geological deposits, the mining process can extract both minerals together. The result: millions of people applied asbestos-contaminated talc products to their bodies and their children's bodies for decades without knowing.
Asbestos is the only known external cause of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs or abdomen. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. When contaminated baby powder is shaken from a bottle, microscopic asbestos fibers become airborne. Anyone in the room can inhale them.
What Did the Companies Know?
Internal company documents revealed during litigation show that manufacturers were aware of asbestos contamination in their talc supply as early as the 1970s. A 2018 Reuters investigation found that Johnson & Johnson's raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for asbestos from at least 1971 through the early 2000s. Despite this knowledge, companies continued selling these products without adequate warnings.
In October 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected chrysotile asbestos in a sample of Johnson's Baby Powder, prompting a voluntary recall of 33,000 bottles. J&J discontinued its talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020 and worldwide in 2023.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone who regularly used talc-based baby powder, body powder, or cosmetic products may have been exposed to asbestos. This includes parents who applied baby powder to their children, adults who used it for personal hygiene, and household members who were in the room during application.
Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, people exposed decades ago may only now be developing symptoms.
The Evidence
1970s
Internal Memo — Asbestos Found in Talc Supply
Company scientists documented the presence of asbestos fibers in talc ore deposits used for consumer products.
Documented Evidence
THE CRISIS IN NUMBERS
A Problem That Keeps Growing
2019
491
2020
553
2021
498
2022
589
2023
647
2024
765
~2025
~948
2019
491
2020
553
2021
498
2022
589
2023
647
2024
765
~2025
~948
Filings Are Surging
Talc-specific lawsuits have nearly doubled since 2019 — from 491 filings to a projected 948 in 2025.
Evidence Log
1971
Internal memo acknowledges asbestos in talc supply
1976
FDA testing confirms talc contamination
2006
IARC classifies talc as possible carcinogen
2018
Reuters exposes decades of corporate knowledge
2020
J&J pulls talc baby powder from US market
2024
765 talc cases filed — record litigation year
1971
Internal memo acknowledges asbestos in talc supply
1976
FDA testing confirms talc contamination
2006
IARC classifies talc as possible carcinogen
2018
Reuters exposes decades of corporate knowledge
2020
J&J pulls talc baby powder from US market
2024
765 talc cases filed — record litigation year
Exposed Documents
Internal documents, FDA findings, and investigative journalism have built an evidence trail spanning over 50 years.
Mesothelioma cases citing talc
12.6%
2018Talc's Growing Reach
The share of mesothelioma cases citing talc exposure has tripled — from 12% in 2018 to nearly 39% in 2024.
Baby Powder
Body Powder
Cosmetic Talc
Shower Products
Foundation
Industrial Talc
Products Under Scrutiny
From baby powder to cosmetics, a growing range of talc products have been implicated in litigation.
Sources: KCIC Annual Reports 2020–2024, KCIC 2025 Mid-Year Insights, court filings, Reuters, Bloomberg Law.
RECENT VERDICTS
What Juries Are Saying
In 2024 and 2025, juries across the country have returned substantial verdicts for mesothelioma patients who used talc products. These cases reflect a growing body of evidence that companies failed to protect consumers.
$1.56B
Craft v. Johnson & Johnson
Baltimore, December 2025. 54-year-old woman, peritoneal mesothelioma, 40+ years of talc product use.
$65.5M
Carley v. Johnson & Johnson
Minnesota, 2025. 37-year-old mother of three, pleural mesothelioma, J&J Baby Powder.
$42.6M
Lovell v. Johnson & Johnson
Boston, July 2025. Massachusetts man, 40 years of using Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
$20M
Casaretto v. Johnson & Johnson
Florida, October 2025. South Florida physician, 50 years of daily baby powder use.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different. Compensation depends on the specific facts, evidence, jurisdiction, and circumstances of each individual case.
TIMELINE
Decades of Deception: A Timeline of Talc and Asbestos
TIMELINE
Decades of Deception
From the first evidence of asbestos in talc to the surge of modern litigation, trace the key moments that define this ongoing crisis.
1970s
Internal Documents Reveal Asbestos in Talc
Company scientists documented the presence of asbestos fibers in talc ore used for consumer products. These records were not shared with regulators or the public.
1997
First Mesothelioma Lawsuit Filed Against J&J
Darlene Coker, a Texas woman diagnosed with mesothelioma, filed the first talc-mesothelioma lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. She was unable to obtain the internal documents needed to prove her case.
2018
Reuters Investigation Published
Reuters revealed that J&J's raw talc and finished powders tested positive for asbestos from at least 1971 through the early 2000s. The company did not report findings to the FDA.
2019
FDA Detects Asbestos in Baby Powder
FDA testing found chrysotile asbestos in a sample of Johnson's Baby Powder. J&J voluntarily recalled 33,000 bottles. The finding confirmed what internal documents had shown for decades.
2020
J&J Discontinues Talc Baby Powder in North America
Amid thousands of lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson pulled talc-based baby powder from U.S. and Canadian markets, citing declining demand. The company continued sales in other countries until 2023.
2024
IARC Upgrades Talc Classification
The International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified talc from Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic") to Group 2A ("probably carcinogenic to humans") in Volume 136 of its Monographs.
2024
Talc Litigation Hits New Highs
765 talc-specific cases filed, representing 19.2% of all asbestos litigation. Nearly 39% of mesothelioma filings cited talc exposure, up from 12.6% in 2018.
2025
Record Mesothelioma Verdicts
Juries awarded over $1.7 billion in talc-mesothelioma verdicts, including the $1.56 billion Craft verdict in Baltimore, the largest individual talc verdict in U.S. history.
1970s
Internal Documents Reveal Asbestos in Talc
Company scientists documented the presence of asbestos fibers in talc ore used for consumer products. These records were not shared with regulators or the public.
1997
First Mesothelioma Lawsuit Filed Against J&J
Darlene Coker, a Texas woman diagnosed with mesothelioma, filed the first talc-mesothelioma lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. She was unable to obtain the internal documents needed to prove her case.
2018
Reuters Investigation Published
Reuters revealed that J&J's raw talc and finished powders tested positive for asbestos from at least 1971 through the early 2000s. The company did not report findings to the FDA.
2019
FDA Detects Asbestos in Baby Powder
FDA testing found chrysotile asbestos in a sample of Johnson's Baby Powder. J&J voluntarily recalled 33,000 bottles. The finding confirmed what internal documents had shown for decades.
2020
J&J Discontinues Talc Baby Powder in North America
Amid thousands of lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson pulled talc-based baby powder from U.S. and Canadian markets, citing declining demand. The company continued sales in other countries until 2023.
2024
IARC Upgrades Talc Classification
The International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified talc from Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic") to Group 2A ("probably carcinogenic to humans") in Volume 136 of its Monographs.
2024
Talc Litigation Hits New Highs
765 talc-specific cases filed, representing 19.2% of all asbestos litigation. Nearly 39% of mesothelioma filings cited talc exposure, up from 12.6% in 2018.
2025
Record Mesothelioma Verdicts
Juries awarded over $1.7 billion in talc-mesothelioma verdicts, including the $1.56 billion Craft verdict in Baltimore, the largest individual talc verdict in U.S. history.
EXPOSURE RISK
People Who May Have Been Exposed
Talc-based products were part of daily life in millions of American households for decades. The people most likely to have been exposed to asbestos through contaminated talc include:
Long-Term Personal Users
Adults who used talc-based baby powder or body powder daily for hygiene, chafing prevention, or freshness, sometimes for 20, 30, or 50 years.
Children Who Received Baby Powder
Infants and children had powder applied to them regularly. Because of the long latency period, those children may be developing mesothelioma now, decades later.
Household Bystanders
Family members in the room during powder application could inhale the airborne particles without ever using the product themselves.
Cosmetologists and Barbers
Professionals who applied talc-based products to clients in salons and barbershops experienced repeated occupational exposure.
YOUR RIGHTS
Do You Have a Talc Lawsuit?
Answer a few quick questions to understand whether you may have legal options.
Question 1 of 3
Did you regularly use talcum powder or talc-based products?
IN THE NEWS
Stories That Brought Talc Contamination to Light
2018Investigation
Reuters
Johnson & Johnson Knew for Decades that Asbestos Lurked in its Baby Powder
A Reuters investigation revealed internal company documents spanning decades that showed awareness of asbestos contamination in talc products.
2024Legal Analysis
Bloomberg Law
Talc Litigation Continues to Grow as Share of Asbestos Cases
Talc-related filings have grown from 9% of all asbestos complaints in 2021 to a projected 22% in 2025, representing the fastest-growing segment of asbestos litigation.
2024Industry Report
KCIC Annual Report
Asbestos Litigation Filing Trends Show Talc Surge
Nearly 39% of all mesothelioma filings in 2024 cited talc as a source of exposure, up from 12.6% in 2018. Cosmetic talc cases have grown significantly.
Headlines and summaries reference publicly available reporting and industry data.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Scale of Talc Litigation
0
Total Asbestos Filings in 2024
Source: KCIC Annual Report 2024
0
Talc-Specific Cases in 2024
Source: KCIC Annual Report 2024
0
Avg. Defendants Named Per Case
Source: KCIC Annual Report 2024
0%
Projected Talc Share of Filings (2025)
Source: KCIC 2025 Mid-Year Insights
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different. Data sourced from KCIC Annual Reports and public court records. Results may vary.
STATE-BY-STATE GUIDES
Every State Has Its Own Rules.
Know Yours.
Filing deadlines, compensation caps, and court rules vary dramatically by state. A case worth millions in one jurisdiction can be time-barred in another. Find the guide for your state.
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$4.69B
Largest Talc Verdict
50
States With Unique Rules
2–6 Yrs
Typical SOL Window
COMMON QUESTIONS
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