01. History of Asbestos Use
Procter & Gamble History of Asbestos Use
Procter & Gamble (P&G) was founded in 1837 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It began as a soap and candle maker. Eventually, they expanded into a wide range of household and personal care products. Some of these products included:
- Crisco® shortening
- Diapers
- Pet foods
- Tide® laundry detergent
- Toothpaste
P&G used asbestos products in their factories. In one lawsuit, a former worker at their Charmin® paper factory alleged the company used thousands of feet of asbestos insulation around electrical, steam and water pipes.
The company also acquired the Old Spice® deodorant brand in 1990. Old Spice used talcum powder in some of its products in the 1960s and 1970s.
Talc is a mineral that can be contaminated with asbestos because the two minerals develop near each other in nature.
Asbestos exposure is dangerous at any amount. It can lead to mesothelioma and other serious diseases.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Asbestos Products
Procter & Gamble Asbestos Products
Procter & Gamble was not a major producer of asbestos products. But in 1990 the company acquired the Old Spice brand, which sold talc-based products. Talcum powder products can be contaminated with asbestos.
Old Spice’s talcum powder used talc from mines in Vermont, Montana, North Carolina and Alabama. Talc and asbestos are natural resources that often form close together. During the mining process, asbestos can contaminate the talc.
P&G also used asbestos in some of its factories. The company used products from asbestos companies to insulate machinery and other high-heat applications. Facility workers alleged they had to cut through asbestos insulation to perform their work. Others noted they had to clean up asbestos dust.
03. Occupational Exposure
Procter & Gamble and Occupational Exposure
Factory workers and contractors for Procter & Gamble Paper Company faced asbestos exposure risks on the job. For example, electricians often had to cut through asbestos insulation to access wiring. This released “plume[s] of cloud dust.” Other workers who had to repair insulation or clean up debris were also at high risk of occupational exposure.
It’s also possible to bring asbestos home. People who worked with it may have brought asbestos fibers home on their clothes. This can cause secondary asbestos exposure for their loved ones.
04. Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos Lawsuits Against Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble has been named in asbestos lawsuits. Some of these lawsuits have been over consumer products, like talc-based powders. Others were for occupational exposure.
In 2022, a man who developed mesothelioma sued Procter & Gamble and other companies. The man had used Old Spice talcum powder for many years, leading to his diagnosis in 2017. A jury verdict awarded him more than $3.4 million.
Settlements involving agreements to end a lawsuit against P&G include:
- $6 million for a 78-year-old former Navy veteran and utility worker
- $1.8 million for a 93-year-old former plant worker
Asbestos law firms can help if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma lawyers at these law firms have experience handling complex asbestos cases. They also have the resources to help find asbestos products you may have come in contact with.
