Study Finds Tampons May Contain Toxic Metals. What To Know

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Scientists have recently found measurable concentrations of metals and metalloids in a variety of tampons. This research, funded by the NIEHS, detected toxic metals like lead, which has no safe exposure level.

More studies are needed to confirm these findings. Researchers want to determine if metals can leach from tampons and be absorbed through vaginal tissue into the bloodstream. The study was published in the August issue of Environment International.

“This is the first study, to our knowledge, to measure metals in tampons,” said Jenni Shearston, Ph.D., the lead author and a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley. “We found 12 of the 16 metals we tested in 100% of the tampons. Some of these metals, like lead, are toxic.” Shearston emphasized that people should not panic, as it’s unclear whether these metals can be released from the tampons or absorbed by the body.

“There is surprisingly little information about the long-term safety of feminine hygiene products,” said Abee Boyles, Ph.D., a health scientist at NIEHS. “We need to know what’s in these products, what chemicals are absorbed, and their potential health impacts on menstruating individuals.”

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In the study, the authors noted that between 52% and 86% of menstruating people in the U.S. use tampons. Metals may come from agricultural or manufacturing processes and could be absorbed through the vagina’s highly absorptive tissue.

To investigate, Shearston and her team analyzed 30 tampons from 14 brands and 18 product lines. They used microwave-acid digestion to examine about 0.2 to 0.3 grams of each tampon.

The analysis revealed detectable levels of several toxic metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Non-organic tampons had higher lead concentrations, while organic tampons had higher arsenic levels.

The researchers also found differences in metal concentrations between products sold in the European Union or the UK and those in the U.S. They noted variations in store-brand versus name-brand tampons for some metals. However, they could not assess differences based on absorbency, lot number, brand, or manufacturer due to their focus on variety.

“To understand if these metals in tampons could impact health, we need more research,” Shearston said. “We must determine if these metals can leach out of the tampons, if they can be absorbed by the body, and in what concentrations.”


Sara

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