This case flew under the radar given the daily onslaught of heretofore unprecedented political shenanigans. About a week ago a St. Louis jury awarded $110.5 million dollars to a 62 year old woman who claimed that her use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused her to develop cancer. Louis Slemp, a 62 year old woman from Wise, Virginia, blamed her ovarian cancer on daily use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder over the course of 40 years. Slemp was originally diagnosed in 2012 with ovarian cancer. She underwent chemotherapy treatment but the cancer returned and has now spread to her liver.

have been concerns for years that talcum powder usage, particularly in the groin area, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Talc, a key component of talcum powder, does contain asbsestos in its natural form. Asbsestos-free talc has been used in baby powder since the last 1970s. But there is a disagreement in the scientific community about the risk associated with the use of asbestos-free talcum powder. Some recent studies have concluded there is zero risk, while other studies continue to assert there is a link between routine talcum powder use and cancer.

There are approximately 2,000 lawsuits with similar allegations currently pending against Johnson & Johnson. Not surprisingly, Johnson & Johnson vowed an appeal of the Slemp verdict and disputed the science linking talcum powder usage and cancer.