Weighing up the pros and cons of different sanitary products requires sound knowledge of what risks and benefits each poses.
Weighing up the pros and cons of different sanitary products requires sound knowledge of what risks and benefits each poses. For the first time, researchers have measured concentrations of various metals in tampons, finding worrying levels of several toxic types, including lead, for which there is no safe level of exposure. The walls of the human vagina are lined with a highly absorptive tissue that has the potential to soak up stray pollutants – like metals – that would circulate in the bloodstream without being filtered by the liver first.
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Ok everyone, before you panic, go look up dr.andrealove, drjengunter, and drjenniferlincoln on Instagram they have broken down this subject. But basically, the study is a nothing-result. The methodology isn't... Great. But even with the bad methodology and unrealistic conditions of the study, the ammounts of metals found were very low, below consumer food safety limits. They were definitely NOT "concerning levels".
Plants, like the cotton plant, can absorb soil contaminants. Most trace toxic substances found in consumer goods are often due to accidental contamination of raw materials or during the manufacturing process. They are NOT added on purpose. Yes, we should still monitor for safety levels to make sure everything is OK, but that's what regulatory bodies like the FDA and toxicologists do. They aren't just doing nothing all day. Also, metals can often be there on purpose for antimicrobial reasons, as we know silver and copper have such properties, for example, but the sensationalized short videos and news don't seem to care about THAT, huh? Biases.
It isn't like tampon companies are trying to scam and poison us un purpose. (If anything, these results are a lesson in why organic and natural often don't mean anything beyond marketing tactics and how sensationalized and taboo female bodies still are. Weird.) Women, trans men, AFAB, and feminine-presenting people already have a lot to deal with as is without everyone trying to scare us about period products that have been safely used for decades in the modern world.
Yes, we still need more research and funding in gynecology, periods, and women's health, but this article is just bad science, and the news covering it are fearmongering. You can keep using your tampons they're safe!! (Just remember to change your tampons, cups and discs every 8 hours max to avoid toxic shock syndrome. Which is relatively rare, btw, but it's always good to follow recommended precautions.)
(Also, not everyone can or wants to change to a reusable period product for multiple reasons. Check your privilege. Please don't shame people for what they use to deal with their periods. Not everyone has ready access to clean water either.)
