NPR

Does Baby Powder Cause Cancer? A Jury Says Yes. Scientists Aren't So Sure

Scientists have found an association between talc and ovarian cancer, but they don't agree on exactly what that means.
A California jury awarded a woman $417 million in a case against Johnson & Johnson. The woman claimed that her use of Johnson's Baby Powder led to terminal ovarian cancer. Scientists disagree on how strong a link there is between talc and ovarian cancer.

If you're a woman, there's a good chance you've used Johnson's Baby Powder at some point. It smells good, and it can keep you dry.

But is it dangerous?

Dr. Daniel Cramer says yes. He's a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He says talc – the mineral in talcum powder – can cause ovarian cancer.

"Overall, women may increase

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