A new report from the website KCIC highlights the growing trend in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits connected to the use of talc products.
According to the report, approximately 40% of all mesothelioma lawsuits are related to talc. This is a significant increase from 10 years earlier, in 2015, when just 5% of lawsuits blamed talc for the victim’s exposure to asbestos.
This statistic is evidence of the shift in how people with mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos. While nearly all people decades ago were filing lawsuits based on exposure from their past jobs, it is much closer to a 50-50 split now between past occupational exposure and talc asbestos exposure.
An Explanation of Asbestos
Asbestos is a dangerous mineral found in the earth’s soil. It’s connected to mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and other diseases. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
During the 20th century, companies used asbestos to protect construction materials and building parts from heat damage. Many construction workers and others were exposed daily to asbestos.
How Asbestos Makes Talc Products Dangerous
Talc is another natural mineral used in cosmetics for absorbing moisture and preserving healthy skin. Asbestos can contaminate talc during mining processes and create dangerous talc-based skincare and other cosmetic products.
Manufacturers grind talc into a powder – called “talcum powder” – and this process can collect asbestos fibers in the powder, which is then put on the market and sold to consumers for cosmetic use or skincare. Asbestos fibers are sharp and invisible to the human eye. They can float in the air and be inhaled or swallowed. If they get trapped in cell linings, they can cause genetic mutations that lead to cancer.
Johnson & Johnson has faced tens of thousands of cancer lawsuits from people who used the company’s talc baby powder for years. Other companies with talc products also have faced lawsuits, with some leading to massive verdicts for victims.
Talc on its own is not considered dangerous. A recent study proved that people who use talc products with no known asbestos contamination are not at an increased risk of developing cancer. The risk comes when people use talc products with asbestos contamination – or another known source of asbestos exposure, such as working in construction.
More Data About Trends in Mesothelioma Claims
KCIC also reports that mesothelioma claims are increasing year over year. There were approximately 1,000 filings in 2024 and 1,106 filings in 2025. This is a nearly 5% increase from year to year.
The number of asbestos disease filings also increased from 2024 to 2025. There were 2,108 filings in 2024 and 2,183 filings in 2025. This figure includes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases attributed to asbestos exposure.
If you’d like to learn more about mesothelioma lawsuits, visit this page on the Mesothelioma Guide website.
Sources & Author
- 2025 Asbestos & Talc Filing Trends: Mid-Year Insights and Projections. KCIC. Retrieved from: https://www.kcic.com/trending/feed/2025-asbestos-talc-filing-trends-mid-year-insights-and-projections/. Accessed: 05/14/2026.
- Asbestos Litigation Trends from DRI 2025. KCIC. Retrieved from: https://www.kcic.com/trending/feed/asbestos-litigation-trends-from-dri-2025/. Accessed: 05/14/2026.
