A hefty price tag for silence. A $6 billion settlement taught a lesson. We worry about puffs but say nothing about clouds of the same thing in our air. Makes sense, right?
$6.48 billion settlements is a hefty price tag for silence.
Johnson & Johnson draws headlines for not disclosing asbestos traces in talc, but when it’s in our air because of construction and demolition activities… crickets.
They knew since the 1950s of the risks. This shows how far companies will go to hide the dangers of what we bring into our homes. When manufacturing and distributing products to consumers, companies like J&J are required to disclose the risks of contaminants like asbestos to the FDA. However, there are no regulations to disclose that clouds of the same substance is in our air. This makes it even worse since this is known and a fact. Not only are the risks willingly hidden, but there are also no regulations that demands the disclosure to the public.
-The FDA regulates consumer products. It ensures these products are safe, effective, and properly labeled. The FDA also conducts tests and can issue recalls if harmful substances are detected in these products (FDA)
-The EPA regulates pollution and is responsible for monitoring and controlling toxic substances released into the environment. This includes setting limits on pollutants, enforcing regulations, and ensuring that efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information (US EPA)
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $6.475 billion settlement to resolve approximately 10,000 lawsuits alleging its talc-based baby powder and other products contained asbestos and caused ovarian cancer. The settlement builds upon J&J’s earlier agreements with about 95% of individuals who sued the company over mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure, as well as settlements with U.S. states accusing the company of failing to warn consumers about potential talc product hazards. J&J recorded a $2.7 billion charge in Q1 2024 to account for recent talc-related settlements. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/01/business/j-and-j-talc-cancer-lawsuits-settlement
Common denominator between Johnson & Johnson and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
The failure to disclose health risks to us.
Let us now look at major Urban transformations, where dozens, if not hundreds, of buildings are demolished to make space for these new high-rise buildings and shopping malls.
Let’s consider one scenario. Skyscrapers and shopping malls are constructed using cement, a material that contains silica, a substance known to cause the same severe health issues as asbestos. Dust is inevitably released into the air during construction activities. Dust control? Useless, so wind spreads it. Then, when old buildings come down, it gets worse. Now, there’s asbestos in the mix. Guess who’s breathing this carcinogenic dust? The folks next door, every single day, without a clue.
Developers, city officials, EPA, and OSHA know this, but they don’t say a word. This isn’t just traces of asbestos like in J&J talcum powder. It’s a whole cloud of cancer-causing particles spreading through the air, into homes, onto skin, and into food and lungs.
So, why do we demand less for the air we breathe than for the products we buy? Construction dust is packed with asbestos and silica, making it way more dangerous than talc powder.
Shouldn’t you be informed and protected from all health risks, whether they come from products or the environment? Let’s be real, if J&J was shady, our government’s even worse. Can you imagine how many people will get sick just from breathing this dust?
Are we all thinking the same thing?
How much would be the settlement payout to each resident for hiding asbestos in the air?
In the case of talc, it took lawsuits and investigative journalism to reveal the presence of asbestos in their powder. Whether true or not, and despite J&J winning most talc lawsuits by claiming no asbestos and no cancer (BBC), the company still paid billions in settlements. But in the case of silica and asbestos in the air, the responsibility lies with our government, the EPA, and not with a private company like J&J. So who should we sue? THE EPA?
This Calls for action!
May 2024. The settlement builds upon J&J’s earlier agreements with about 95% of individuals who sued the company over mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure, as well as settlements with U.S. states accusing the company of failing to warn consumers about potential talc product hazards…
