Exclusive | Major panty liner brand contained cancer-causing agent; users struck by disease: suit

A major brand of panty liners has been accused of exposing hundreds of women to a cancer-causing chemical — with users claiming they suffered devastating health problems ranging from yeast infections to liver disease, a new lawsuit claims.Carefree, a feminine hygiene brand once owned by Johnson & Johnson and now owned by Essity, allegedly contained PFOA, a known carcinogen, according to the suit, filed in LA County Superior Court.PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a synthetic “forever chemical” belonging to a group of substances known as PFAS, which can persist in the environment and human body for years.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Research has linked PFOA exposure to an increased risk of certain cancers, particularly kidney and testicular cancer, as well as to other serious health problems.The plaintiffs claim they regularly wore Carefree panty liners in their underwear, leaving the products in “sustained contact” with “vulvar and perineal tissue.”“The tissue is vascular, and permeable, and what it absorbs enters the bloodstream directly,” the suit states.Some women wore the liners for 10 hours or more at a time, with the lawsuit claiming they were exposed to the chemical hundreds or even thousands of times over years of regular use.The women in the suit claim they suffered a litany of health problems, including breast, ovarian and kidney cancer; thyroid disease; chronic inflammation; infections; high cholesterol and immune disorders.Others allegedly suffered reduced fertility or infertility, while the lawsuit claims the women now live in fear of developing cancer because of their alleged exposure.“Each plaintiff suffered physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, anxiety over her diagnosis and treatment, and loss of enjo...