Walk into any barber shop in America and you’re likely to find Clubman talc. The iconic product in the green bottle is one of the oldest brands of talcum powder, and its application after a shave and a haircut — whether applied directly or on a shaving brush — has long been a part of men’s hair care ritual, designed to minimize itch and soothe irritated skin. For all the proud history tied to the Clubman, it has also been vilified in recent years, linked to cases of asbestos-related disease. The asbestos in the product has led to malignant mesothelioma in clients, barbers, hairdressers, and others.
Clubman Talc History
Clubman talc is one of many iconic products created by Edouard Pinaud, a Frenchman who set out to learn the art of perfumery at a very young age. Born between 1805 and 1810, by 1830 he had established his first shop in the heart of Paris, and in 1833 had his first success with the Lilac Vegetol fragrance for which he was given a royal patent by the court of Queen Victoria.[1]
Over the years, the company created numerous fragrances, perfumes, and hair tonics that became popular in barbershops. In addition to its more expensive line, the company introduced low-cost alternatives to its regular brands, including the Roman Smelling Salt Perfumes that was introduced in 1895 and was a direct predecessor of the Clubman Line that was created a quarter century later, shortly before Pinaud’s death.
Though the Great Depression in the United States did not impact sales of the company’s expensive colognes, the company set out to reach the common man in the 1930s, and in 1933 they introduced a re-formulated Lilac Vegetol aftershave and Bay Rum which were sold in department stores They also introduced the Clubman line of aftershave, talc, hair tonic, shampoo, and soap around 1940. Though the brand was marketed exclusively to barbers, there was a strong demand for the product, and it began appearing in country club locker rooms. Many people began purchasing it for home use. The Clubman products, including the talc, hit the peak of its popularity in the United States during the 1960s when it began being distributed in department stores and pharmacies. [1]
Clubman’s talc products were manufactured using talc mined, processed, and supplied by Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, which sourced much of its talc from deposits that were contaminated with asbestos. As a result, many people who used Clubman talc have been sickened with asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma.
In 1987, the Clubman brand was purchased by American International Industries (AII), a California-based company. After the company had been named in numerous mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits, The company continues to sell the Clubman brand, but after having been named in numerous personal injury lawsuits it switched to cornstarch as the main ingredient in its powder product.
Clubman Talc and Asbestos
As was true of many other cosmetic talc brands, Clubman sourced its talc from several talc suppliers that mined and milled talc from deposits that were intermingled with asbestos products. The process of removing the mineral from the earth resulted in the talc being contaminated with asbestos fibers. This led to those who removed the product from the earth, those who processed it for sale to cosmetic talc companies, and those who used the product or who were in close proximity to it as a result of sweeping it up or it having been carried into their homes were at risk for asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen. When it is broken down within talc products, its microscopic particles become airborne and are easily inhaled into the lungs, where it becomes embedded in the cells of the pleural lining and leads to cell death and mutations that scar the lungs or grow into the deadly tumors of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Does Talcum Powder Cause Cancer?
Talcum powder has always been viewed as an extremely safe product, but in recent years it has been linked to the same diseases that are associated with exposure to asbestos. This has led to a significant amount of research into its safety, and numerous studies have confirmed that inhaling the material can lead to malignant mesothelioma and that use of the product in the genital area can lead to ovarian cancer.
Though talcum powder companies argue that their products are not contaminated with asbestos and do not cause cancer on their own, the growing body of evidence has led numerous juries to order talc suppliers and the companies whose products contain talc to pay millions of dollars to victims of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other illnesses. This has led many companies, including the company that sells Clubman talc, to change the main ingredient in its popular products from talcum powder to cornstarch.
Clubman Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Clubman talcum powder has been named in numerous personal injury lawsuits that blamed the product for victims’ asbestos-related diseases. Among the most notable of these are:
- A claim was filed by a man and his daughter following the mesothelioma death of his wife. Eddie Germaine spent decades working as a barber and his wife Michelle spent her days at the shop watching him work, sweeping the shop, and laundering his work clothes. The suit pointed to asbestos in the Clubman talcum powder that Mr. Germaine used every day and blamed it for her death.
- Margaret Lashley and Dwayne Johnson were both diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and filed claims against the Clubman brand’s owner, American International Industries. Lashley was a hairdresser who used the product while grooming clients, while Johnson blamed his exposure on years of having the product used on him when he went to barbershops as a client. The case ended in a mistrial as a result of the coronavirus.
- In 2016, a California jury awarded $18.07 million to an aide of former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after years of exposure to asbestos in Clubman and other brands of talcum powder at his father’s barbershop. The talc was sourced from Whittaker, Clark and Daniels, and Clubman was assigned 10% of the verdict.[2]
- In 2022, AII was ordered to pay $400,000 to the daughter of a mesothelioma victim who had been exposed to Clubman talc, as well as other brands, during the years she worked as a hairdresser. Though Clubman argued against the verdict, the court granted the daughter additional damages due to delays.
What if I Was Exposed to Clubman Talcum Powder?
Several different Clubman talc products have been cited in mesothelioma lawsuits. They are:
- Clubman Pinaud Talcum Powder
- Clubman Pinaud Bath Talc
- Clubman Pinaud Shave Talc
These products were considered the gold standard of talcum powders for use following shaves and haircuts at both barbershops and hair salons for decades and posed a significant risk to anybody who worked in those settings or who spent significant time there over the years before 2017 when the use of talcum powder was discontinued. Because malignant mesothelioma has such a long latency period, decades can go by before symptoms begin to appear.
If you worked with Clubman talc products, it is important that you alert your physician to your history of exposure, and that you familiarize yourself with the symptoms of mesothelioma and remain vigilant. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the more effective treatment will be.
Diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Ovarian Cancer After Using Clubman’s Talc Products?
If you’ve been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, or any other asbestos-related disease, consulting with an experienced asbestos attorney should be your next step after attending to your health. These professionals have specialized knowledge about the options available to victims of asbestos exposure and can help you navigate the process of seeking justice and compensation for the damages you’ve suffered.
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