Toxic Metals Found in Tampons – A Wake-Up Call for Women’s Health

A new study on tampons has revealed that the menstrual hygiene product used by millions of women contains toxic metals, including arsenic, lead, and cadmium. The study, published by the scientific journal Environment International, reveals that researchers found “measurable concentrations” of all 16 heavy metals they were looking for in the tampons, with elevated concentrations of toxic metals.

The tampon samples used by researchers included 30 different tampons from 14 brands and 18 product lines, with different absorbency levels and products named as “top sellers”. The sample also included both organic and inorganic products.

The study shows these metals could make their way into the tampons through the raw materials they are made from, such as cotton and rayon, being contaminated through water, air or soil. Alternatively, some metals may be added directly into the product during production for uses such as odor control, pigment, or as an antibacterial agent. The study doesn’t definitively confirm the metal in tampons is causing negative health effects, but in general, the negative health effects of heavy metals are well known and include damage to the cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems; damage to the liver, kidneys, and brain; and an increased risk of dementia and cancer.

Senior study author Kathrin Schilling, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, stated, “The average lead concentration in tampons was about 10 times higher than the maximum levels currently allowed in drinking water.” She also added that arsenic levels were five times lower than current limits for drinking water. “It’s important to note that arsenic shouldn’t be present in tampons at all, and we don’t yet understand the effects of vaginal exposure since it hasn’t been studied,” Schilling said. “There is no safe level of lead exposure, and it has been shown to cause reproductive health issues in women.”

In the United States, tampons are classified as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates their safety only by recommending tampons not contain pesticide residue or dioxin, and there is currently no requirement to test for chemical contaminants in tampons. Vineet Dubey, founding partner at Custodio & Dubey says, “Consider how dangerous this is for women: toxic metals going directly into their bodies for hours at a time. How many millions of women have been poisoned over the years by these harmful tampons? These companies need to be held accountable immediately and must guarantee the safety of future tampons before they put any more on the market.”

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