Currently, Johnson & Johnson is facing tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its iconic baby powder contains asbestos. The plaintiffs in these cases have said that the contamination has led to them developing cancer. While many of the lawsuits involve women who have developed ovarian cancer, some involve both men and women who have developed mesothelioma, a cancer known to be caused by asbestos exposure. Johnson & Johnson has categorically denied that its baby powder and talc products contain asbestos, but recent testimony from an expert says otherwise according to the North California Record.
On Thursday, an expert witness in a trial to determine if Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused a woman to develop mesothelioma, testified under oath that asbestos had been found in the talc powder.
Dr. William Longo, a microscope researcher with the Georgia-based MAS lab told the jury that the sample contained tremolite asbestos and anthophyllite asbestos. He said that the asbestos came in both fibers and bundles.
The case, which involves Carolyn Weirick, who says that using Johnson & Johnson’s Shower-to-Shower for 40 years caused her to develop mesothelioma.
Longo has been an important witness for the plaintiffs in past asbestos trials. Longo’s findings showed that 18 of 32 samples of Johnson & Johnson talc from it’s Italy mine tested positive for asbestos. 31 of 38 samples from a Vermont lab tested positive, and 7 of 18 samples from Chinese mines tested positive.
Forensic Analytical, another lab, has also found that samples have tested positive for asbestos.
Longo also testified that the methods used by Johnson & Johnson to detect asbestos were less sensitive than the methods used by his lab.
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